Social Determinants of Health, Medication Use, and Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Optimizing health related-quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), who often experience a relapsing disease course, is an essential component of care. Improving IBD disease control is linked to increased health-related quality of life. Even as many effective pharmacotherapies to promote disease control are available, evidence suggests that Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black IBD patients may not receive full benefit from these therapies compared to their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. Underlying mechanisms that contribute to observed disparities in the use of IBD medical therapies are likely multifactorial. Adequate access to treatment has been implicated. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black IBD patients are more likely to be Medicaid-insured, and Medicaid insurance has been associated with increased emergency room visits, a proxy for sub-optimal IBD control.