Management of ulcerative colitis in a real-life setting: An Italian multicenter, prospective, observational AIGO study.
BACKGROUND
No data are available on the variability in the clinical management of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients by Italian gastroenterologists. Therefore, improving the standards of UC care as provided by the National Welfare Clinical Path (PDTA), in accordance with the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) guidelines for UC, is not easy.


AIMS
To assess the management of UC by Italian gastroenterologists in a real-life setting taking into account its variability.


METHODS
This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study included IBD-specialized gastroenterologists (GSIBDs) and general gastroenterologists (GGs) working in Italian public hospital units. Consecutive patients with an UC flare were enrolled and the medical treatment evaluated. For each center, the physician in charge of the study (16 GSIBDs and 10 GGs) was administered two electronic questionnaires.


RESULTS
Among 26 units, 573 UC patients were enrolled. Good adherence to the European guidelines was reported; GSIBDs reported greater adherence than GGs with a higher prescription of rectal and combination therapy in mild to moderate distal disease and a higher rate of hospitalization in severe UC.


CONCLUSION
The management of UC by Italian gastroenterologists in clinical practice is good according to the ECCO consensus recommendations, though some discrepancies are present between GSIBDs and GGs.
['Scribano|Maria Lia|ML|', 'Papi|Claudio|C|', 'Costa|Francesco|F|', 'Bortoli|Aurora|A|', 'Bortoluzzi|Francesco|F|', 'Buscarini|Elisabetta|E|', 'Cappello|Maria|M|', 'Caserta|Luigi|L|', 'Cortelezzi|Claudio|C|', 'Ferronato|Antonio|A|', 'Manguso|Francesco|F|', 'Mazzuoli|Silvia|S|', 'Orzes|Nicoletta|N|', 'Kohn|Anna|A|', '|||']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D019468:Disease Management D005260:Female D019983:Guideline Adherence D006760:Hospitalization D006801:Humans D007558:Italy D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic D011446:Prospective Studies D012720:Severity of Illness Index D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Management Ulcerative colitis Real-life Clinical practice