Validation of the Red Flags Index for Early Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease: A Prospective Observational IG-IBD Study Among General Practitioners

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic delay >12 months is frequent in Crohn's disease CD. Recently, the International Organization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease IO-IBD developed a tool to identify early CD and reduce diagnostic delay. Subjects with an index ≥8 are more likely to have suspected CD (odds ratio OR 205, p 250 ng/g] resulted in significantly improved accuracy: sensitivity 100% 29-100%, specificity 72% 55-85%, PPV = 21% 5-51%, NPV = 100% 88-100%. CONCLUSIONS: The RF Index combined with FC is a valid tool to identify patients with high probability of having CD at early stage.