Fast Facts
Quick and informative UC and Crohn’s facts
- Currently, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease affect more than 3 million people in the United States, which is an increase from 2 million in 1999. The total annual financial burden, including both direct and indirect costs, of IBD is estimated between $14.6 billion and $31.6 billion.
- Inflammatory bowel disease causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is an umbrella term used to represent Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract while UC affects the large intestine and the rectum.
- The damaged areas appear differently for both diseases. Crohn’s causes patches of damaged area next to healthy tissue and the inflammation can reach through multiple layers of the GI tract. UC causes a continuous damaged area that tends to start at the rectum and the inflammation only occurs in the innermost lining of the colon.
- Persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or bloody stools, weight loss and fatigue are all common symptoms of IBD, though there are some differences between Crohn’s and UC.
- Individuals aged 45 years or older; women; non-Hispanic white individuals; those with less than a high school level of education; individuals who are divorced, separated, or widowed; those who are not currently employed; individuals born in the United States; those living in poverty; and individuals living in suburban areas are more likely to report with a diagnosis of Crohn’s or UC.
- Although a Crohn’s or UC diagnosis can occur in children, most people are usually diagnosed after age 15 years and it is rare for a child 8 years or younger to receive an IBD diagnosis.
- IBD is thought to be the result of an improper immune response and genetic links have been investigated, but it is still unclear what specifically causes IBD.
- Endoscopy, colonoscopy, radiologic imaging and blood or stool test are used to diagnose IBD, and the condition can be treated with various medication options including, aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antibiotics and biologic therapies.
- However, there is no standard treatment regimen for patients with Crohn’s or UC, and physicians must tailor therapy individually. When developing a treatment approach, physicians must consider disease severity, anatomic location of disease, previous response to medication, side effects of medication and comorbidities.
- Among individuals with UC for 30 years or more years, up to a third require surgery for the disease which includes the removal of the colon and rectum. Among those with Crohn’s disease, about 70% require surgery, and the type of procedure performed depends upon the reason for surgery, disease severity and disease location in the intestines.
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