Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

Figure 1 Diagnostic time intervals. Based on the patients' questionnaires, three relevant time intervals were calculated: (1) patient waiting time [interval from the first inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms till consulting a physician]; (2) physician diagnostic time (interval from first physician contact to IBD diagnosis); and (3) total diagnostic time (interval from the first IBD symptoms till establishment of IBD diagnosis).

Figure 2 Diagnostic time in Crohn’s disease versus ulcerative colitis patients. A: Patient waiting time almost equals in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis patients; B: Significantly prolonged physician diagnostic time in CD patients; C: Significantly prolonged total diagnostic time in these patients. CD: Crohn’s disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis.

Figure 3 Diagnostic time depending on family history for inflammatory bowel disease. A: A positive family history of inflammatory bowel disease was associated with reduced patient waiting time in Crohn’s disease (CD); B: But did not affect physician diagnostic time in CD patients; C: A positive family history did not affect patient waiting time in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients; D: But delayed physician diagnostic time in UC patients.