Background/aims: Adherence of the patients with inflammatory bowel diseases is important to maintain the remission. However, the patients do not always keep their appointments for treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical factors associated with adherence of patients in terms of appointment keeping.
Methods: A total of 73 subjects were retrospectively investigated from September 2005 to January 2012 at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital (Goyang, Korea). We reviewed medical records including the age, sex, residence, medications, the disease activity, and the rate of keeping the date. A punctual visit was defined as outpatient visit on the scheduled date ±7 days. Punctual patients for the visit were defined as their punctual visit rates exceed 90%.
Results: Male to female ratio was 2.4:1. Mean age was 41.5±15.4 years (range, 20 to 78 years). Ulcerative colitis was 53 cases (72.6%) and Crohn's disease was 20 cases (27.4%). Mean duration of disease was 42.0±41.6 months (range, 4 to 226 months). Mean puntual visit rate was 86.7±16.0% (range, 27 to 100). Thirty-eight patients (52.1%) were punctual patients for the visit. Azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine treatment was associated with punctual patients for the visit (odd ratio, 3.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 9.09; p=0.03). However, other clinical factors did not influence the punctual visit rates.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the use of azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine was associated with keeping the appointment for meeting the doctor. Further prospective study would be necessary.