VIDEO: Changing face of IBD requires clinicians to be more vigilant when treating GI symptoms

WASHINGTON – The incidence and prevalence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are increasing, and these conditions are affecting a wider variety of patients than in the past, Sunanda Kane, MD, MSPH, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting.

More Asian, African-American and Hispanic patients are developing irritable bowel disease (IBD), and should not be dismissed because they do not fit the traditional patient profile, she said. In addition, more 25% of patients with IBD are below the age of 18 years, and 1% are younger than 2 years.

Treatment options for IBD may seem confusing, but, “it’s relatively simple for ulcerative colitis – 75% of patients will do fine with mesalamine or 5-ASA products,” Kane said.

Crohn’s disease is more complicated, requiring biologic agents and immunomodulators that will require at least annual monitoring by a gastroenterologist.

Clinicians treating patients with IBD should remember that preventive care is still important, and vaccinations should be encouraged, although patients receiving immunosuppressive agents should not receive live-virus vaccines, such as the inhaled influenza vaccine and vaccines for yellow fever and shingles, she added.