Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have Decreased Rates of Health Maintenance Visits

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly presents during adolescence and may affect health care utilization. This study aimed to assess rates of health maintenance examinations (HMEs) in adolescents with IBD with their primary care physicians (PCPs).

Methods: This is a single center, case-control study of adolescents with IBD who received their IBD care and primary care within the same healthcare system. Adolescents diagnosed with IBD between 13 and 17 years of age were matched 1:1 by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance status to healthy controls. Patient demographics, IBD characteristics, and health outcomes were extracted from the medical record. HME rate was defined as having one HME with a PCP during a 12-month period.

Results: This study included 150 IBD-control matched pairs. HME rates were similar at baseline between cases and controls (83% vs 85%, P = 0.53) but approached significance in year 1 post-diagnosis (77% vs 85%, P = 0.056). In year 2 post-diagnosis, IBD patients had less frequent HME (62% vs 74%, P = 0.0486). Disease severity did not affect HME rates. IBD patients from under-represented minority groups had lower rates than matched controls (46.2% vs 91.7%, P = 0.03). Meningococcal and human papilloma vaccination rates were lower in cases versus controls (79% vs 94%, P = 0.0005 and 60% vs 84%, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Adolescents with IBD have less frequent HME and lower rates of certain vaccinations than their peers. Those from underrepresented minority groups are at particular risk. Given the important issues addressed at HMEs, gastroenterologists should recommend that adolescents with IBD have ongoing PCP engagement to optimize health outcomes.