IBD background
IBD is a term used to describe conditions characterized by chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Common types: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)
Prevalence
Between 2 and 3 million people in the United States have IBD. Prevalence is increasing among both older adults and racial and ethnic minority groups.
Management
As a complex and chronic condition, IBD requires care through a multidisciplinary model to help improve outcomes and quality of care.
Primary care role
Clinicians in primary care play a large role in IBD diagnosis and management, particularly when in partnership with gastroenterologists.
Opportunity for primary care to help improve IBD care
Toolkit purpose
Designed to empower and educate primary care clinicians on IBD including: IBD diagnosis, management, and follow-up care.
Diagnosis delays
Evidence suggests there may be significant lag times between the onset of symptoms for IBD and diagnosis.
Front-line role
Primary care clinicians have a high likelihood of being the first clinicians to evaluate patients with symptoms suggestive of IBD.
Long-term management
Primary care clinicians can help in the long-term management of IBD, including in areas such as:
Medication adherence
Monitoring treatment efficacy
Preventative health maintenance (eg, vaccines, cancer screenings)
IBD patient populations
Populations at risk for IBD
Age and sex
IBD occurs in people of all ages, and there is no difference in prevalence by sex.
Diagnosis age
Most people with IBD are diagnosed between the ages of 15-29, however, IBD can happen at any time and 10-15% of new diagnoses occur in those >60 years.
Race and ethnicity
IBD occurs in people of all races and ethnicities, and its prevalence is increasing around the globe.
Evolution of the patient population at risk for IBD
Recent trends
Increased prevalence in older adults and in diverse racial and ethnic groups, such as Black and Hispanic persons.
Clinical awareness
This is important as clinicians may not be aware of this increase in prevalence of IBD in Black and Hispanic persons and therefore may be less likely to consider IBD as a possible diagnosis in these individuals, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis.