Low prevalence of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: Anemia is a well-known complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with a reported prevalence of 8.8-73.7%. However, knowledge is sparse about the anemia prevalence in a population-based cohort of patients affected by IBD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this retrospective, descriptive, population-based study was to determine and analyze the prevalence of anemia for ambulatory (n = 485) as well as for hospitalized patients diagnosed with IBD in 2008 in the Highland Health Care District, Jönköpings County, Sweden. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia at the annual follow-up in the studied IBD population was 6%, 5% for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 9% for those with Crohn's disease (CD). There was a higher rate of anemia at the yearly check up in patients requiring inpatient care during the year. IBD patients, prescribed anti-TNF-α treatment, had a higher rate of anemia. Of the hospitalized UC and CD patients (n = 31), 35% and 50%, respectively, had anemia at admission and 6% and 4% had severe anemia (Hb <100 g/L), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anemia in this population was lower than reported previously, probably due to inclusion of all IBD patients in the area in combination with a proactive follow-up model. The prevalence of anemia in this IBD population was similar to the prevalence in the general population. This may indicate that efforts by health care professionals to prevent, identify, and treat anemia in the IBD population have been successful.

Framework for assessing quality of care for inflammatory bowel disease in Sweden.

AIM: To create and apply a framework for quality assessment and improvement in care for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. METHODS: A framework for quality assessment and improvement was created for IBD based on two generally acknowledged quality models. The model of Donabedian (Df) offers a logistical and productive perspective and the Clinical Value Compass (CVC) model adds a management and service perspective. The framework creates a pedagogical tool to understand the balance between the dimensions of clinical care (CVC) and the components of clinical outcome (Df). The merged models create a framework of the care process dimensions as a whole, reflecting important parts of the IBD care delivery system in a local setting. Clinical and organizational quality measures were adopted from clinical experience and the literature and were integrated into the framework. Data were collected at the yearly check-up for 481 IBD patients during 2008. The application of the quality assessment framework was tested and evaluated in a local clinical IBD care setting in Jönköping County, Sweden. RESULTS: The main outcome was the presentation of how locally-selected clinical quality measures, integrated into two complementary models to develop a framework, could be instrumental in assessing the quality of care delivered to patients with IBD. The selected quality measures of the framework noted less anemia in the population than previously reported, provided information about hospitalization rates and the few surgical procedures reported, and noted good access to the clinic. CONCLUSION: The applied local quality framework was feasible and useful for assessing the quality of care delivered to IBD patients in a local setting.

Improved population-based care: Implementing patient-and demand-directed care for inflammatory bowel disease and evaluating the redesign with a population-based registry.

The gastroenterology unit at the Höglands Hospital in Eksjö is responsible for the care of all 466 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a geographic area including approximately 115,000 inhabitants. In 2000, the frustration over an inadequate traditional outpatient clinic inspired us to redesign our outpatient unit to become more patient and demand directed. The redesign included the following: A direct telephone line for patients to a specialized nurse, available during working hours; appointments were scheduled in accordance with expected needs, and emergency appointments were available daily; traditional follow-ups of IBD patients were replaced by an annual telephone contact with a specialized nurse; the team agreed on a patient-centered value base for its work, and the redesign was monitored using clinical outcome measures reflecting 4 dimensions (see parentheses below) of the care in a "Value compass"; quality of life (functional) and routine blood samples (clinical) were followed yearly and collected in a computerized IBD registry together with basic information about the patients; access and waiting lists together with patient satisfaction (satisfaction) are followed regularly; and ward utilization (financial) was registered. Our study shows that the new design offers a more efficient outpatient clinic in which waiting lists are markedly reduced although production rates remains the same. Utilization data show a significant decrease in comparison with national data, showing that the new care is economically favorable. The clinical results regarding anemia frequency in the IBD population are highly comparable with or even better than those found in the literature. We also show good results regarding quality of life where more than 88% of patients achieve set goals. In conclusion, our new patient- and demand-directed care seems to be more efficient and with clinical and quality-of-life results remaining on a high standard.