Nearly 70% of adolescents and young adults with ulcerative colitis stop taking medication to treat the disease within a year of diagnosis, a study led by researchers at Imperial College London has found.

 

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the intestine, and it affects around 200,000 people in the UK. Failure to take medication to treat the disease can result in frequent relapses, severe disease, and higher risk of colon cancer. It can also lead to a reduced quality of life and higher healthcare costs to treat complications, such as through surgery.

 

The findings come from a study published in the British Journal of General Practice, led by researchers at Imperial College London, University College London and St George’s University London. They found that a quarter of adolescents and young adults with ulcerative colitis discontinued their treatment after one month and 69% within a year of diagnosis. They also found that residents in deprived postcodes were more likely to discontinue treatment compared to those who live in more affluent postcodes, something they suggest may be related to the cost of prescriptions.

 

The findings of the study may mean that adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ulcerative colitis are at risk of early relapse as not taking medication as prescribed, known as non-adherence, is associated with a five-fold risk of disease relapse compared to those whose adherence is over 80%.

 

The researchers say the results show that the first year of starting lifelong therapies amongst individuals diagnosed with ulcerative colitis is a critical window to improve adherence for adolescents transitioning to young adulthood and those from deprived postcodes. They suggest that these patients should be actively followed up by GPs to see if they are taking their medications and if they can afford them, as well as discuss with them what to do if symptoms stop and start. They also suggest that alerts should be placed on health records to remind GPs to review these patients.