Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a condition involves chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract. It primarily includes two cateogries, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Once diagnosis, IBD is a lifelong, chronic condition that requires a lifetime of medical monitoring and care.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition than can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to anus.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition that affects just the colon, or large intestine.

Facts About IBD

  • IBD is 1 of the 5 most prevalent GI burdens in the US, with an overall health care cost of more than $1.7 billion.

  • IBD is a chronic condition without a medical cure and commonly requires a lifetime of care.

  • Each year in the US, IBD accounts for 700,000 physician visits, 100,000 hospitalizations, and disability in 119,000 patients.

  • Up to 75% of patients with Crohn’s disease and 25% of those with UC will require surgery.

  • The peak age of onset for IBD is teenage years.

  • Over 1million Americans are living with IBD.

  • Stress, diet, infection all can worsen IBD symptoms.

  • The cause of IBD is unknown. Genetic, infectious, and psychological factors all may play a role.

  • First degree relatives of IBD patients have 15 times increased risk of developing IBD.

  • There is a well established link between UC and cancer of the colon.