Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-02028-5 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
The LUCID study: Living with Ulcerative Colitis; Identifying the
socioeconomic burden in Europe
Version: 
0 
Date: 
21 Mar 2021
Reviewer's report:
This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic burden of ulcerative colitis in
adult patients in European countries. The study recorded 12 months' data. At the
initiation of the study, patients were assigned into two arms. ARM 1 included
patients with moderate or severe disease, and ARM 2 included patients with
mild or remission status. The patients' data were then collected in the following
12 months. Clinical and medical resource use data were collected via electronic
case report forms (eCRFs); data on non-medical and indirect costs and health-
related quality of life (HRQoL) were collected via patient and public
involvement and engagement (PPIE) questionnaires. They found that the mean
annual total cost was €8,787 in ARM 1 and €6,368 in ARM2. Therefore, the
authors concluded that ulcerative colitis is a significant socioeconomic burden.
This study provided an update on the socioeconomic burden of ulcerative colitis.
The study was well designed. The authors also realized several limitations, such
as the disease's fluctuant nature, making it difficult to segregate the disease
status.
1. Although the authors mentioned that "a formal statistical comparison was not
the objective of this exploratory study," a detailed statistical analysis of some
major comparisons such as the data in Table 2 will provide more insightful
information.
2. Line 54 in "Methods": "Gastroenterologists were recruited between August
2018 and February 2019". What was the actual study period?
3. Line 22 in "Results": "anaemia (54% and 41% at 12 months prior index date".
In Line 50 in "Results": "Patients in ARM 1 and ARM 2 experienced anaemia
(69% and 63%, respectively). What are the differences between the two sets of
anemia numbers?
4. Line 31 in "Discussion": "Structures" should be "Strictures." 
5. There are some spelling mistakes.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
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