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This site is intended for U.S. Healthcare Professionals.
To report an adverse event or product quality complaint, call 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327)
Not an actual patient.
Approximately 1.6 million Americans have IBD,1,2 which is comprised of 2 major types: ulcerative colitis (UC), characterized by continuous, mucosal inflammation limited to the innermost lining of the colon and rectum, and Crohn’s disease (CD), defined by patchy, transmural inflammation which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the perianal area.1,3,4
Population-based studies in the U.S. suggest that the incidence of IBD is most common in patients aged 15 to 35 years.1 IBD can also present in childhood, including up to 20% of children who are diagnosed before the age of 10 years.5 It is more common in Whites (vs other racial groups) and in adults, UC is more common in males.1,6
Symptoms of IBD depend on the disease location, and can range from mild to moderate to severe.2,4 Diarrhea and rectal bleeding are characteristic with UC. Patients can experience weight loss and fever (although it can be less common than with CD), and abdominal pain varies depending on the patient. For CD, weight loss, fever, and abdominal pain are more predominant, although these patients can also experience diarrhea and rectal bleeding.4
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common GI condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists, may be mistaken for IBD since IBS symptoms may mimic those seen in a patient with mild IBD, but history and additional diagnostic tests can help rule it out of the differential diagnosis.7 Endoscopy combined with biopsies of the affected area(s) of the GI tract will also establish the diagnosis and differentiate between UC and CD.4,8
The etiology of IBD most likely involves a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, microbiome, and the immune system.3,4 T cells, which are activated by antigen-presenting cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissue, migrate to the site of inflammation and play a role in recruitment and activation of additional inflammatory cells in the GI tract.9,10
IBD is a chronic disease, with significant impact on a patient’s general health.3 While the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (for CD) and Mayo Score (for UC) are the most frequently used instruments for scoring and monitoring disease activity in clinical trials, researchers are working to improve the measures of disease activity and severity through assessment of impact of disease on the patient, disease burden, and disease course, including structural damage with a goal of improving disease management for patients.11
Conference specifically designed by advanced practice providers (APPs) for the purpose of meeting the educational needs of APPs who specialize in the management of patients with GI disorders and chronic liver disease.
Premier event for clinicians and the general public about digestive disorders and the latest trends in GI technology and therapeutics.
Annual forum for participants to learn about the latest advances in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, and to discuss current topics in clinical applications.
Global meeting featuring thought leaders from around the world focused on advancing patient care in allergy and immunology.
An all-encompassing event providing real-world clinical education, case studies and new evidence-based approaches in IBD management.
Global meeting for physicians, researchers, and industry in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery.
Annual global conference for interdisciplinary, clinical nutrition leaders, providing the latest in clinical nutrition research, education, and products.
Premier global educational event for allergists and immunologists, with thousands of attendees each year, discussing allergies, asthma, and immune deficiency disorders.
Annual global congress structured around basic science, traditional medicine and clinical sessions given by some of the world's top GI specialists.
Annual scientific session uniting allergists, immunologists, nurses, and physician assistants aimed at maintaining the highest standard of practice in allergy care.
Annual conference for a multidisciplinary community of practitioners and researchers focusing on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by pairing best practices in clinical care with innovative research.
An all-encompassing event providing real-world clinical education, case studies and new evidence-based approaches in IBD management.
Annual forum for participants to learn about the latest advances in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, and to discuss current topics in clinical applications.
The conference program centers on the importance of scientific evidence in understanding and improving the health and well-being of people across the globe.
Annual forum for participants to learn about the latest advances in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, and to discuss current topics in clinical applications.
Premier event for clinicians and the general public about digestive disorders and the latest trends in GI technology and therapeutics.
Global meeting featuring thought leaders from around the world focused on advancing patient care in allergy and immunology.
Annual event with more than 2,500 members and non-members of the AMCP to engage on the latest innovations and most intentional networking in managed care pharmacy.
Annual event dedicated to excellence in clinical pharmacy practice, research, and education.
Global congress for researchers from around the world to present their findings on gastroenterology and digestive health.
Global meeting designed to bring together international and national experts in the multidisciplinary care of the intestinal failure patient.
Conference specifically designed by advanced practice providers (APPs) for the purpose of meeting the educational needs of APPs who specialize in the management of patients with GI disorders and chronic liver disease.
Annual congress to improve global health by advancing the frontiers of
clinical pharmacology
Annual global congress dedicated to clinical nutrition and metabolism, including basic and clinical research, education, and organization of consensus statements about clinical care.
Global meeting for physicians, researchers, and industry in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery.
Medication Resources
(vedolizumab)
Approximately 2.4 million Americans have IBD, which consists of 2 major types: ulcerative colitis (UC), which involves diffuse inflammation typically limited to the colonic mucosa, and Crohn’s disease (CD), characteristically causing transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus.1,2
The prevalence of IBD in the U.S. is among the highest in the world.1 A 2023 epidemiology studied showed that the Northeast and South regions of the U.S. have higher rates of IBD compared to the West and Midwest.1,3,4 Additionally, prevalence is slightly higher in males among children and females among adults.1 There has been an observed significant rise in cases in the pediatric population, driven mainly by patients aged between 10 and 17 years old.5
Incidence and prevalence rates of IBD are higher in White patients compared with patients of other races.1 However, a 2017 study demonstrated that between 1970 and 2010, there was an 39% increase in IBD incidence rates for White patients and 134% increase for patients of other races (African American, Asian, American Indian, and Other), suggesting that the future of IBD in the U.S. may experience a shift in racial diversity.6
The pathophysiology of IBD has yet to be fully defined but is known to include a combination of genetic, environmental, microbiological, and immunological factors.7-9 The interplay between these factors can compromise the intestinal mucosa and epithelial barrier. The subsequent influx of antigens and microorganisms into the lamina propria of the gut is associated with activation of the innate immune response, and a persistent, adaptive immune response.10-13
Symptoms of IBD depend on the disease location and can range from mild to moderate to severe.14 Common symptoms of CD include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue; weight loss, fever, growth failure, anemia, recurrent fistulas, or extraintestinal manifestations can also be presenting features.15 For UC, the main symptom is bloody diarrhea, with or without mucus; other symptoms include urgency or tenesmus, abdominal pain, malaise, weight loss, and fever, depending on the extent and severity of disease.16
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common GI condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists, may be mistaken for IBD since IBS symptoms may mimic those seen in a patient with mild IBD, but history and additional diagnostic tests can help rule it out of the differential diagnosis.17 Diagnosis of IBD is a multistage process including physical examination and medical history, endoscopy, lab testing, and cross-sectional imaging.18
IBD can substantially compromise the physical, psychological, familial, and social dimensions of life, with secondary effects evident in the increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other emotional effects.20 As chronic IBDs, CD and UC can lead to disabling bowel symptoms and progressive bowel damage throughout a patient’s life, resulting in prominent disability, reduced QoL, and increased morbidity.20,21 Patients with IBD expect to be informed about their disease, enabling shared decision making that ultimately leads to symptom control and improved quality of life.22
Find materials to help foster a deeper understanding of health equity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Test your understanding of health equity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Additional Resources
Find materials to help foster a deeper understanding of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Learn more about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory, relapsing-remitting disease that includes two main subtypes, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
