Statistics

Experts estimate that between 2.4 million and 3.1 million people in the United States have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is around 1 in every 200 people. Up to 70,000 people per year are newly diagnosed with IBD. Data shows that the number of people with IBD is rising in the United States.^1-3

The term “IBD” includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). UC gets diagnosed slightly more often than CD. For some people, it is difficult to tell if they have UC or CD. This is very rare, but can result in a diagnosis of indeterminate colitis.^1-3

Are certain people more likely to get IBD?

The chance of developing IBD increases with age. It is most likely to be diagnosed after age 45. In general, IBD impacts the same numbers of women and men. But women are slightly more likely to be diagnosed with CD. Men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed with UC.^1-3

Rates of IBD are highest in non-Hispanic white populations. However, some research shows that the differences in IBD rates by race or ethnicity are going away.^1-3

There is also research showing that certain races are more likely to experience IBD differently. For example, African Americans with CD are more likely to have inflammation of the colon or upper parts of the digestive (gastrointestinal or “GI”) tract.^1-3

Rates of IBD are different around the world. Some research shows that if people move to countries with higher IBD rates, like the United States, their chance of developing IBD grows. This may imply that there are factors in the environment that increase IBD risk.^1-3

Risk factors for IBD

Certain risk factors may increase the chance of developing IBD. These include:^1-3

• Smoking – Smokers are about 2 times as likely to get CD.
• Antibiotics – Antibiotic use may increase risk of IBD.
• Appendicitis – Children who get their appendix removed are more likely to get UC later in life.
• Genetics – If you have a parent, child, or sibling with IBD, you may be 5 to 20 times more likely to develop IBD.

Does IBD increase the risk of other diseases?

Having IBD can increase the risk of developing certain other diseases. These include:^1-3

• Colon cancer – The risk for colon cancer increases the longer you have had IBD. About 1 in 5 people who have had IBD for 30 years have colon cancer.
• Blood clots – People with IBD are about 3 times more likely to develop serious conditions involving blood clots. Examples of these conditions include deep vein thrombosis or DVT. In DVT, a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body. Another example is pulmonary embolism. This is when a blood clot blocks blood to a lung artery.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) – PSC is a disease that impacts the liver. It causes severe inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts. About 3 in 4 people with IBD have PSC.

What are the costs of having IBD?

The cost of treating IBD is growing in the United States. In 2018, the total cost for IBD care was $8.5 billion. The biggest expense was prescription medicine. The annual cost per person for CD is between $8,000 and $19,000. For UC, the annual cost is between $5,000 to $15,000.^1,2

Additionally, IBD may make some people miss work. This can cause indirect costs, such as missing out on earning money at your job.^1,2

New medicines like biologics can be very expensive. But they can also be very effective. Improved treatment options have changed how IBD is treated and also the cost.^1,2