TITLE:
What Is the Personal Experience of IBD Patients about Their Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy?
AUTHORS:
Ágnes Milassin, Mariann Rutka, Ágnes Anna Csontos, Pál Miheller, Károly Palatka, Mónika Szűcs, Zoltán Szepes, Anita Bálint, Renáta Bor, Anna Fábián, Klaudia Farkas, Ferenc Nagy, Tamás Molnár
KEYWORDS:
Patient’s Satisfaction, Personal Experience, Questionnaire, Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy, Patient’s Preference
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
10,
2017
ABSTRACT: AIM: To evaluate and compare the patients opinion on the two types of anti-
TNF-α therapies in a Hungarian cohort of IBD patients. METHODS: This
was a prospective, multicentre, questionnaire-based observational study carried
out in three Hungarian tertiary centres. From April to September 2014,
an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients diagnosed with ulcerative
colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD), who have received infliximab
(IFX) and/or adalimumab (ADA). The survey focused on the preferences of
the two anti-TNF-α therapies on the basis of the efficacy, the administration
routes and the side effects. RESULTS: 292 IBD patients, 216 CD, 75 UC and 1
indeterminate colitis patient completed the questionnaire. The mean duration
of biological therapy was 1.7 (1 - 7) years. IFX treated patients noticed improvement
of symptoms at 4 - 5 weeks while ADA treated patients noticed at
5 - 6 weeks. There was no difference between the patients’ satisfaction regarding
the types of anti-TNF-α therapy if they received both. However, subcutaneous
administration was preferred by ADA-treated patients previously
receiving IFX (p = 0.007) compared to intravenous route and they did not intend
to change the mode of therapy (p = 0.040). 90% of the patients, receiving
only IFX or ADA were satisfied with their present therapy. The majority of
patients (186/292, 63.7%) would not switch therapy. 63 of 291, 22% of the patients
reported to have some concern with biological therapy—the majority
(32/63, 50.8%) due to fear from side effects. CONCLUSION: Generally, patients
preferred and would not change the present anti-TNF-α therapy, however,
subcutaneous administration was preferred among those patients who
had have experience with both.