5-Aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) use in Crohn's disease: a survey of the opinions and practice of Australian gastroenterologists.

BACKGROUND: The use of 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) drugs in Crohn's disease (CD) is controversial, with their continuing apparent widespread use despite high-level evidence indicating marginal benefit at best and international guidelines recommending limited indications.
METHODS: In order to understand how clinicians translate the evidence base into clinical practice, we surveyed a cross-section of Australian gastroenterologists to determine opinions and prescribing patterns of 5-ASA drugs in CD.
RESULTS: In all, 42% of 285 gastroenterologists who were sent a questionnaire by e-mail responded. Five (4%) never use 5-ASA drugs in CD. The drugs are most commonly prescribed for patients with colonic (96%) or ileocolonic (92%) disease location, inflammatory disease behavior (80%), and mild disease activity (97%). The majority (64%) use a dose of 1-3 g/day, but only 6% use over 4.5 g/day. Less than one-half use 5-ASA drugs as maintenance following surgical resection, but most use it for inducing remission alone (70%) or in combination with other drugs (90%), and continue its use for maintenance. Side effects are thought to be infrequent (62%) or rare (20%) and few common side effects are believed to be serious. Respondents estimated that over 90% of patients were nonadherent to prescribed 5-ASA regimens at least 50% of the time. While 84% believed that 5-ASA drugs were effective in CD, only 58% believed that they were cost-effective.
CONCLUSIONS: In Australia 5-ASA drugs are extensively prescribed for CD at relatively low doses without expectation of patient adherence. Current evidence and guidelines has had little apparent impact on clinical practice. The cost implications are considerable.