Understanding patient journey in ulcerative colitis prior to biologic initiation: a 5-year exploration

Abstract Background There has been a more pronounced shift toward earlier, aggressive therapies in Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to describe the pre-biologic treatment and health care experience, including co-morbidities overall utilization, for UC patients who initiated biologic therapies, 5 years prior initiation first agent. Methods agent approved between 9/15/2005 1/30/2018 were identified from IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database, large US database. date recorded exposure defined as index date, ≥ pre-index records required evaluate patients’ treatment, progression utilization initiating agents. Results Among 1891 eligible patients, with oral corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylates, other non-biologic immunomodulators, all increased progressively across index. From within year-five year-one index, median duration corticosteroid 34 88 days per year proportion experienced extensive/pancolitis 16 59%. Overall, frequency all-cause visits also increased. Conclusions Patients increasing morbidity burden therapy. To achieve reduced corticosteroids management, better risk stratification is needed help identify timely treatment.