SURVEY OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS PATIENTS AND GASTROENTEROLOGISTS INDICATES THAT SYMPTOMS MAY CREATE A NEW REALITY FOR PATIENTS

UC PATIENTS REPORTED CHALLENGES WITH INTIMACY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONAL SUCCESS

Pfizer announced today findings from the U.S. UC Narrative survey 1,2 of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and gastroenterologists (GIs).  The U.S. survey findings are an initial analysis of a subset of the UC Narrative global survey, which was developed with input from the Global UC Narrative Advisory Panel.i The survey was developed in collaboration with an advisory panel, including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. These findings, reflected in the physician survey, suggest that people living with UC are suffering from symptoms that may impact their life choices. The survey indicated that improvements in patient-physician dialogue may have the potential to positively influence disease management.

A total of 301 U.S. UC patients were surveyed online or by telephone between August and October 2017. Patients self-reported that they had been diagnosed with UC and had their diagnosis confirmed by an endoscopic procedure, did not have a colectomy, had visited a GI office in the past 12 months and had taken prescription medication for their UC; patients who reported taking only 5-ASA (5-aminosalicylic acid) medications were excluded. A total of 149 U.S. gastroenterologists were surveyed online between August and November 2017. To qualify for participation, physicians must have seen at least 10 UC patients per month, with at least 10 percent of those patients currently taking a biologic treatment for UC. Patients and physicians who qualified for and successfully completed the survey were compensated for their participation.  

Among the 301 patients surveyed, 64 percent (n=194/301) reported that their disease controls their life rather than them controlling their disease.1 Additionally, 63 percent (n=190/301) of patients indicated they often feel like they spend more time in the bathroom than anywhere else.1 Many (69%; n=209/301) indicated they would be a “more successful person” if they did not have UC.1 Some patients (28%; n=85/301) said that they have changed their plans around deciding to adopt, not to have any/more, or delay having children.1 

“These survey results highlight the unfortunate reality that some patients accept their symptoms as their way of life with UC,” said Michael Osso, President & CEO of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “This underscores the need for patients and gastroenterologists to more effectively communicate about all aspects of the disease.”

Altered lives, altered choices 

The results from the survey also highlighted how deeply the disease can influence peoples’ lives, and suggested that patients appear to accept having UC-related symptoms such as pain or urgency define their new reality.

Strikingly, the survey showed that of the 66 percent (n=198/301) of patients who said they considered their disease to be “controlled with few to no symptoms,” more than one-third (39%; n=77/198) reported averaging nine or more trips to the bathroom for any reason other than urination on their worst day, compared to 80 percent (n=159/198) making four or less trips on their best day), and 30 percent (n=60/198) reported experiencing three or more flares in the past 12 months.1  

66 percent (n=98/149) of GIs said that more than half of their patients believe urgency in going to the bathroom is just part of living with the disease, while 53 percent (n=79/149) said that more than half of their patients believe pain and cramping is just part of living with UC.2 The impacts of the disease are more than just physical – GIs surveyed agreed that their patients would approach their personal relationships (65%; n=96/149) and career or education (50%; n=74/149) differently if they did not have UC.2 

Concerns left unspoken, resources left untapped 

The survey also suggested that patients weren’t comfortable discussing some topics with their GIs, and that both patients and GIs wanted more educational and support resources:

The survey found that 34 percent (n=102/301) of patients wished that their gastroenterologist better understood how UC affects their mental health; however, more than 46 percent (n=137/301) said they don’t feel comfortable talking about emotional concerns with their gastroenterologist.1 Likewise, 46 percent (n=139/301) of patients said it was important to them for UC to have less impact on their sex lives and personal relationships, yet 50 percent (n=152/301) said they don’t feel comfortable talking to their GIs about these topics.1

However, resources like patient advocacy groups, which aspire to close these gaps, aren’t always used. Fifty-five percent (n=165/301) of patients said they had ever reached out, been referred to, or relied on information from a patient association.1 Forty percent (n=59/149) of GIs said having informed resources to provide to their patients would help them improve their relationships with patients; yet 45 percent (n=67/149) of GIs said they recommended patient associations as a source for information and support to less than half of their patients.2

“There are millions of people worldwide living with ulcerative colitis.3  This survey explores some patient and physician perspectives of living with this disease and how it can influence how they communicate,” said Tamas Koncz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Inflammation and Immunology, Pfizer. “These findings underscore that we need to identify new ideas and resources that can help enhance the way patients and physicians understand and communicate their concerns living with UC.”

As a next step, the U.S. preliminary findings will be combined with the findings from a survey of nine other countries to reveal additional insights about the impact of ulcerative colitis on a more global scale. 

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About the UC Narrative

The UC Narrative Program is a global initiative created by Pfizer to engage the UC community to help identify how people living with ulcerative colitis are impacted by the disease. 

The Global UC Narrative Advisory Paneli, comprised of people living with UC, as well as leading gastroenterologists, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nurses, a psychologist, and patient organizations, including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in the U.S., from 10 countries will work together to turn the insights gleaned from the survey into actions that can help identify real-world needs and concerns about living with UC. 

About the UC Narrative U.S. Survey and Survey Methodology

The UC Narrative U.S. survey findings represent a subset of the UC Narrative global survey, which was developed with input from the Global UC Narrative Advisory Panel. In addition to providing input into the development of the survey, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recruited respondents (n=126/301) to complete the survey online. The preliminary findings from the U.S. UC Narrative survey will be presented in collaboration with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation during the Crohn’s & Colitis Congress in Las Vegas on January 18, 2018. Survey results for all countries are anticipated in the spring of 2018.

The UC Narrative U.S. patient survey was conducted online and by telephone by Harris Poll on behalf of Pfizer between August 23 and October 23, 2017, among 301 adults ages 18 residing in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), have had an endoscopic procedure to confirm their diagnosis, have not had a colectomy, have been to a gastroenterologist’s office in the past 12 months, have ever taken a prescription medication for their UC (excluding those who have only ever taken 5-ASAs), and provided informed consent to complete the research.  The research method and survey questionnaire were reviewed and received institutional review board (IRB) approval from WIRB-Copernicus Group. Medication history was used as a proxy for disease severity ii, with “mild” patients capped at 20% of total completes. Data were not weighted, and are therefore only representative of the individuals who completed the survey. Patients who qualified for and successfully completed the survey were compensated for their participation.   

The UC Narrative U.S. physician survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Pfizer between August 23 and November 3, 2017, among 149 adults residing in the U.S. who are licensed to practice medicine, specialize in gastroenterology, do not mostly practice in a long-term care facility or hospice, see at least ten (10) UC patients each month, with at least 10% of these patients currently taking a biologic, and provided informed consent to complete the research. The research method and survey questionnaire were reviewed and received IRB approval from WIRB-Copernicus Group. Results were weighted by region and years in practice by gender to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population of U.S. gastroenterologists. Physicians who qualified for and successfully completed the survey were compensated for their participation. 

About Ulcerative Colitis  

UC is a chronic and often debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions of people worldwide.4,5 Symptoms of UC can include chronic diarrhea with blood and mucus, abdominal pain and cramping, fever and weight loss.  While the exact cause of UC is unknown, it is believed to be the result of complex interactions between multiple factors that include genetic predisposition and an exaggerated immune response to a microbial trigger.  UC can have a significant effect on work, family and social activities.  Despite receiving treatment, half of patients continue to experience symptoms.  Under these circumstances, surgery to remove the colon (colectomy), may be considered for some patients.1 

Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world®

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on http://www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

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i Where permitted, members of the Global UC Narrative Advisory Panel were paid honoraria for their participation.

ii “Mild” patients were defined as those who have ever taken a 5-ASA, steroids for 3 or less of the past 12 months, or another medication for their UC, but have never taken a biologic or immunosuppressant, and have not taken steroids for 4 or more of the past 12 months. “Moderate to severe” patients were defined as those who have ever taken a biologic or immunosuppressant, or have taken steroid for 4 or more of the past 12 months.

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1 Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY. [UC Narrative Patient Survey. 2017.]

2 Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY. [UC Narrative Physician Survey. 2017.]

3 Molodecky NA, Soon IS, Rabi DM, Ghali WA, Ferris M, Chernoff G, Benchimol EI, Panaccione R, Ghosh S, Barkema HW, Kaplan. Increasing Incidence and Prevalence of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases With Time, Based on Systematic Review. Gastroenterology. 2012; Volume 142, Issue 1, Pages 46–54.e42.

4 Loftus E. Clinical Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Incidence, Prevalence, and Environmental Influences. Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1504–1517.

5 Kappelman MD, et al. Recent trends in the prevalence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in a commercially insured US population. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2013;58:519–525.

6 Hanauer SB. Inflammatory bowel disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1996;334(13):841-8.

7 Sartor RB. Mechanisms of Disease: pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2006;3:390-407.

8 Irvine EJ. Quality of Life of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Past, Present, and Future. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2008; 14 (4): 554-563.

9 Hanauer SB. Review article: evolving concepts in treatment and disease modification in ulcerative colitis. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2008; 27(Suppl. 1):15–21.

10 Loftus E. Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2011;7(2, Suppl. 3):3-15.

 

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public.