EVOLUTION OF DIAGNOSTIC DELAY IN PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly prevalent, but diagnosis can still be challenging. Diagnostic delay is particularly deleterious in this age group. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the evolution of diagnostic delay in pediatric IBD and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective study including all pediatric IBD patients diagnosed during 2014, 2019 and 2020 in a tertiary hospital. Diagnostic delay, time to first medical visit, time to pediatric gastroenterologist (PG) visit and time to diagnosis were calculated and compared within a gap of five years (2019 and 2014) and with the year of onset of the pandemic (2020 and 2019). RESULTS: A total of 93 participants were included (2014: 32, 2019: 30, 2020: 31). No significant differences were observed in diagnostic delay, time to first medical visit in Crohn's disease (CD), time to PG visit and time to diagnosis when comparing 2019-2014 and 2020-2019. Time to first visit in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Undetermined-IBD increased in 2019 (P=0.03), with new decrease in 2020 (P=0.04). Diagnostic delay was longer in DC compared to UC plus Undetermined-IBD. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic delay is still an important matter in pediatric IBD, with no significant change over the last years. The time to the first PG visit and the time for diagnosis seem to have the greatest impact on diagnostic delay. Thus, strategies to enhance recognition of IBD symptoms among first-line physicians and to improve communication, facilitating referral, are of utmost importance. Despite the restraints in the health care system caused by the pandemic, time to diagnosis in pediatric IBD was not impaired during 2020 in our center.

Evolução do atraso diagnóstico na doença inflamatória intestinal em idade pediátrica e o impacto da pandemia COVID-19 / Evolution of diagnostic delay in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and the impact of the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Background: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly prevalent, but diagnosis can still be challenging. Diagnostic delay is particularly deleterious in this age group. Objective This study explores the evolution of diagnostic delay in pediatric IBD and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Retrospective study including all pediatric IBD patients diagnosed during 2014, 2019 and 2020 in a tertiary hospital. Diagnostic delay, time to first medical visit, time to pediatric gastroenterologist (PG) visit and time to diagnosis were calculated and compared within a gap of five years (2019 and 2014) and with the year of onset of the pandemic (2020 and 2019). Results A total of 93 participants were included (2014: 32, 2019: 30, 2020: 31). No significant differences were observed in diagnostic delay, time to first medical visit in Crohn's disease (CD), time to PG visit and time to diagnosis when comparing 2019-2014 and 2020-2019. Time to first visit in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Undetermined-IBD increased in 2019 (P=0.03), with new decrease in 2020 (P=0.04). Diagnostic delay was longer in DC compared to UC plus Undetermined-IBD. Conclusion Diagnostic delay is still an important matter in pediatric IBD, with no significant change over the last years. The time to the first PG visit and the time for diagnosis seem to have the greatest impact on diagnostic delay. Thus, strategies to enhance recognition of IBD symptoms among first-line physicians and to improve communication, facilitating referral, are of utmost importance. Despite the restraints in the health care system caused by the pandemic, time to diagnosis in pediatric IBD was not impaired during 2020 in our center.

RESUMO Contexto Apesar da prevalência crescente da doença inflamatória intestinal (DII) em idade pediátrica, o seu diagnóstico pode ser desafiante. Um atraso no diagnóstico é particularmente deletério nesta faixa etária. Objetivo Este estudo investiga a evolução do atraso diagnóstico na DII pediátrica e o impacto da pandemia COVID-19 no mesmo. Métodos Estudo retrospetivo que incluiu todos os doentes em idade pediátrica diagnosticados com DII durante 2014, 2019 e 2020 num hospital terciário. O atraso diagnóstico, o tempo para a primeira visita médica, o tempo para a primeira visita ao gastroenterologista pediátrico (GP) e o tempo para o diagnóstico foram calculados e comparados num intervalo de cinco anos (2019 e 2014) e com o ano marcado pelo surgimento da pandemia COVID-19 (2020 e 2019). Resultados Foram incluídos 93 participantes (2014: 32, 2019: 30, 2020: 31). Não se observou diferença significativa no atraso diagnóstico, no tempo para a primeira visita médica na doença de Crohn (DC), no tempo para a primeira visita ao GP e no tempo para o diagnóstico após comparação entre 2019-2014 e 2020-2019. Na colite ulcerosa e colite indeterminada, o tempo para a primeira visita médica aumentou em 2019 (P=0,03), com nova diminuição em 2020 (P=0,04). O atraso diagnóstico foi superior na DC comparativamente com a colite ulcerosa e colite indeterminada. Conclusão O atraso diagnóstico na DII pediátrica continua a ser um tema importante, que não sofreu alteração significativa ao longo dos últimos anos. O tempo para a primeira visita ao GP e o tempo para o diagnóstico parecem ter maior impacto no atraso diagnóstico, pelo que são necessárias estratégias para aumentar o reconhecimento dos sintomas da DII entre os médicos de primeira linha, bem como melhorar a comunicação e a referenciação. Apesar das restrições causadas pela pandemia no sistema de saúde, o tempo para o diagnóstico na DII pediátrica não foi comprometido no nosso centro em 2020.