• Posted December 2, 2024

Over 100,000 U.S. Youth Battle Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rising at an alarming rate among young Americans, a new study reveals.

"Prevalence rates [are] among the highest reported worldwide," said researcher Dr. Michael Kappelman, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

The study -- published Nov. 20 in the journal Gastroenterology -- breaks new ground in understanding pediatric IBD in the United States. 

It estimates that more than 100,000 Americans under the age of 20 have some form of IBD, a group of diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy bowel cells. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common types.

For the study, Kappelman's team used insurance claims data from Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and California to estimate prevalence of disease nationwide for 2020. 

They estimated pediatric cases of Crohn's disease rose 22% and ulcerative colitis were up 29%, compared to 2009.

"Our findings reveal that pediatric IBD affects a significant number of American youth," Kappelman said.

Highest rates of disease were among white youth and those in the Northeast, the study found. Researchers said more research is needed to understand differences in prevalence among various racial and ethnic groups.

"This comprehensive evaluation of pediatric IBD prevalence in the U.S. is an important step in understanding the full spectrum of the disease in our youth," said study co-author Andrés Hurtado-Lorenzo, a senior vice president at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. 

"These data are essential for healthcare professionals and policymakers to effectively manage pediatric IBD, make informed public health decisions, and ultimately improve outcomes for affected children and adolescents," he added in a foundation news release.

More information

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation has more about Crohn's disease.

SOURCE: Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, news release, Nov. 20, 2024