{
  "abstract": "Introduction A virtual biologic clinic (VBC) that integrates patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) retrieved digitally through an online patient app represents a novel model of care to standard outpatient care. From October 2024, the VBC has replaced a standard clinician telephone/video/face-to-face outpatient appointment for the post-induction clinical assessment of patients with IBD starting a new advanced therapy in our unit. Their efficacy in facilitating treat-to-target medical optimisation and saving outpatient clinic appointment capacity is yet to be explored.Methods This was a retrospective observational study comparing outcomes in consecutive new IBD biologic starters who had their post-induction review in a standard outpatient clinic (before October 2024) or remotely via the VBC (from October 2024). Clinical remission was achieved if Harvey Bradshaw Index <5 or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index <3.Results Of 159 patients (66% Crohn’s; 32.1% Ulcerative colitis; 1.9% IBD unclassified), 100 were monitored in the VBC and 59 had a standard outpatient clinic review after biologic initiation. 70% (n=70/100) of the VBC patients completed the PROMs via the app and were more likely to have their treatment escalated from the VBC or at their next outpatient appointment (31.4% vs. 10.0%; p=0.023) and be in clinical remission at 12 months (60.0% vs. 36.7%; p=0.032) compared to those who did not complete the PROMs.Compared to standard outpatient care, assessment via the VBC was associated with a reduced mean number of outpatient clinic appointments over the following year (1.04 vs. 1.80; p<0.01), increased disease reassessment investigations completed before their next outpatient appointment (66.7% vs. 33.9%; p<0.01), and earlier treatment escalation (e.g. dose optimisation or treatment switch) either from the VBC or at their next appointment (25.0% vs. 6.8%; p=0.004). These outcomes improved if patients had completed the PROMs in time for the VBC, with 78.6% (n=55/70) completing disease assessment investigations in time for their next outpatient appointment, and 31.4% (n=22/70) having their treatment escalated either from the VBC or at their next outpatient appointment. 12-month biochemical, endoscopic and/or radiological remission rates were documented in 130 patients; these did not significantly differ between those who were monitored via the VBC (55.0%; n=47/84) and those who had standard of care (54.3%; 25/46).There were no significant differences in median age, gender or disease phenotype between these groups.Conclusions A novel virtual biologic clinic model of care using digitally-retrieved PROMs permits remote monitoring of a greater volume of patients, earlier treat-to-target optimisation and saves outpatient clinic capacity whilst not compromising on treatment outcomes.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Krithivasan Raman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Rachel Wimpory"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Jennifer Toft"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Whitley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Misha Kabir"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P220 Virtual biologic clinic assessment of post-induction treatment response can replace a standard outpatient clinician review without compromise in treatment outcomes",
  "uid": "33733f7c-f3e8-5399-97bb-b037059c881e"
}