Factors Associated with Delays in Initiating Biologic Therapy in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Expeditious initiation of biologic therapy is important in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, initiation of biologics in the outpatient setting may be delayed by various clinical, social, and financial variables.

To evaluate the delay in initiation of an advanced therapy in IBD and to identify factors that contributed to this delay.

This was a multi-center retrospective study. Outpatients who were initiated on a biologic therapy from 3/1/2019 to 9/30/20 were eligible for the study. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with a delay in biologic treatment initiation. Delay was defined as the days from decision date (prescription placement) to first infusion or delivery of medication.

In total 411 patients (Crohn’s disease, n = 276; ulcerative colitis, n = 129) were included in the analysis. The median [interquartile range-(IQR)] delay for all drugs was 20 [12–37] days (infliximab, 19 [13–33] days; adalimumab, 10 [5–26] days; vedolizumab, 21 [14–42] days; and ustekinumab, 21 [14–42] days). Multivariate linear regression analysis identified that the most important variables associated with delays in biologic treatment initiation was self-identification as Black, longer distance from treatment site, and lack of initial insurance coverage approval.

There may be a significant delay in biologic treatment initiation in patients with IBD. The most important variables associated with this delay included self-identification as Black, longer distance from site, and lack of initial insurance coverage approval.