Adherence to surveillance guidelines after removal of colorectal adenomas: a large, community-based study.

Objective: To determine adherence to recommended surveillance intervals in clinical practice.

Design: 2997 successive patients with a first adenoma diagnosis (57% male, mean age 59 years) from 10 hospitals, who underwent colonoscopy between 1998 and 2002, were identified via Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatiseerd Archief: Dutch Pathology Registry. Their medical records were reviewed until 1 December 2008.

Self-reported disability in patients with inflammatory bowel disease largely determined by disease activity and illness perceptions.

Background: The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) disability index has recently been introduced to measure patients' physical, psychological, familial, and social limitations associated with IBD. We assessed factors related to self-reported disability and the relationship between disability and direct health care costs.

Methods: A large cohort of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) was prospectively followed for 2 years by 3 monthly web-based questionnaires.

Effect of aging on healthcare costs of inflammatory bowel disease: a glimpse into the future.

Background: Population aging is expected to result in a substantial additional burden on healthcare resources in the near future. We aimed to assess the current and future impact of aging on direct healthcare costs (DHC) attributed to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Patients with IBD from a Dutch multicenter cohort filled out 3-monthly questionnaires for 2 years.

Risk factors of work disability in patients with inflammatory bowel disease--a Dutch nationwide web-based survey: work disability in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with high costs to society. Few data on the impact of IBD on work disability and potential predictive factors are available.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of and predictive factors for work disability in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Features of adenoma and colonoscopy associated with recurrent colorectal neoplasia based on a large community-based study.

Background & Aims: We investigated adenoma and colonoscopy characteristics that are associated with recurrent colorectal neoplasia based on data from community-based surveillance practice.

Methods: We analyzed data of 2990 consecutive patients (55% male; mean age 61 years) newly diagnosed with adenomas from 1988 to 2002 at 10 hospitals throughout The Netherlands. Medical records were reviewed until December 1, 2008.

Healthcare costs of inflammatory bowel disease have shifted from hospitalisation and surgery towards anti-TNFα therapy: results from the COIN study.

Objective: The introduction of anti tumour necrosis factor-α (anti-TNFα) therapy might impact healthcare expenditures, but there are limited data regarding the costs of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) following the introduction of these drugs. We aimed to assess the healthcare costs and productivity losses in a large cohort of IBD patients.

Design: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients from seven university hospitals and seven general hospitals were invited to fill-out a web-based questionnaire.

Laparoscopic ileocolic resection versus infliximab treatment of distal ileitis in Crohn's disease: a randomized multicenter trial (LIR!C-trial).

Background: With the availability of infliximab, nowadays recurrent Crohn's disease, defined as disease refractory to immunomodulatory agents that has been treated with steroids, is generally treated with infliximab. Infliximab is an effective but expensive treatment and once started it is unclear when therapy can be discontinued. Surgical resection has been the golden standard in recurrent Crohn's disease.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy compared with no specific treatment for the primary prevention of bleeding from esophageal varices. A randomized controlled multicentre trial [ISRCTN03215899].

Background: Since esophageal variceal bleeding is associated with a high mortality rate, prevention of bleeding might be expected to result in improved survival. The first trials to evaluate prophylactic sclerotherapy found a marked beneficial effect of prophylactic treatment. These results, however, were not generally accepted because of methodological aspects and because the reported incidence of bleeding in control subjects was considered unusually high.

Wait-and-see policy or laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy for bile-duct stones: a randomised trial.

Background: Patients who undergo endoscopic sphincterotomy for common bile-duct stones, who have residual gallbladder stones, are referred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, only 10% of patients who do not have this operation are reported to develop recurrent biliary symptoms. We aimed to assess whether a wait-and-see policy is justified.