EPI Uncovered, an American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) survey sponsored by AbbVie, examined misperceptions in gastrointestinal (GI) health in the U.S. The survey is the largest analysis of GI patients, gastroenterologists, and primary care physicians that sought to uncover barriers to the diagnosis of EPI.
Key findings from the survey include1:
Patients do not address gastrointestinal issues head-on
- Patients wait an average of 4 years to see a doctor about their GI symptoms
- 3 out of 5 patients with chronic GI issues who found it difficult to discuss their GI symptoms with their HCP stated that it was due to embarrassment
There is a limited understanding of EPI and the role of the pancreas in digestion
- 66% of patients surveyed had never heard of EPI
- 78% of patients surveyed were not aware of EPI symptoms
- About 1 in 4 patients eventually diagnosed with EPI were diagnosed with a different condition prior, according to PCPs (25%) and GIs (24%)
