Risk factors for incomplete telehealth appointments among patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the urgent implementation of telehealth visits in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care; however, data assessing feasibility remain limited. OBJECTIVES: We looked to determine the completion rate of telehealth appointments for adults with IBD, as well as to evaluate demographic, clinical, and social predictors of incomplete appointments. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with IBD who had at least one scheduled telehealth visit at the NYU IBD Center between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, with only the first scheduled telehealth appointment considered. METHODS: Medical records were parsed for relevant covariables, and multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted association between demographic factors and an incomplete telehealth appointment. RESULTS: From 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2021, there were 2508 patients with IBD who had at least one telehealth appointment, with 1088 (43%) having Crohn’s disease (CD), 1037 (41%) having ulcerative colitis (UC), and 383 (15%) having indeterminate colitis. Of the initial telehealth visits, 519 (21%) were not completed, including 435 (20%) among patients <60 years as compared to 84 (23%) among patients ⩾60 years (p = 0.22). After adjustment, patients with CD had higher odds of an incomplete appointment as compared to patients with UC [adjusted odds ratio (adjOR): 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–1.69], as did females (adjOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.54), and patients who had a non-first-degree relative listed as an emergency contact (adjOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16–2.44). While age ⩾60 years was not associated with appointment completion status, we did find that age >80 years was an independent predictor of missed telehealth appointments (adjOR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.12–7.63) when compared to individuals aged 60–70 years. CONCLUSION: Patients with CD, females, and those with less social support were at higher risk for missed telehealth appointments, as were adults >80 years. Engaging older adults via telehealth, particularly those aged 60–80 years, may therefore provide an additional venue to complement in-person care.