Asian perspectives in the management of inflammatory bowel disease: findings from a recent survey.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence and incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) differs worldwide. While the prevalence of IBD has stabilized in Europe, the USA and Japan, an increasing trend has been observed in Asia. However, there are no data on the current clinical practice for the management of IBD in the region. The present study aims to investigate the number of existing and new cases of IBD and to understand the current practice of diagnosis and treatment of IBD in different Asian countries.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire, designed according to European and US guidelines, was distributed to IBD specialists throughout Asia. The questionnaire estimated the annual incidence of existing and new IBD cases in physicians' clinical practices and evaluated their procedures of diagnosis and preference for therapeutic treatment and maintenance treatment.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven questionnaires were received out of the 107 distributed. In the clinical practices of these 87 respondents, there were 502 existing and 73 new cases per year for ulcerative colitis (UC) and 202 existing and 32 new cases per year for Crohn's disease (CD). Colonoscopy and histology were the most commonly used methods for the diagnosis of UC and CD, but clinical practice regarding the diagnosis of IBD varied. The treatment of choice for mild-to-moderate UC and CD was 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), which is also the preferred choice for the maintenance treatment of UC and CD.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical practice with regards to IBD diagnosis and management varies within Asia.5-ASA is the preferred treatment and maintenance therapy for mild-to-moderate IBD.
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJ
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. joesung@cuhk.edu.hk
Kamm
Michael A
MA
Marteau
Philippe
P
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010465:Perception; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D019804:Mesalamine