Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Evaluating Therapeutic Interventions in the SHIP-deficient Mouse Model of Crohn Disease-like Ileitis and Fibrosis
Published on: October 14, 2025
Long-term health outcomes in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study
Pieta Turunen1, Merja Ashorn, Anssi Auvinen
1Pediatric Research Centre, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
Insights
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often leads to more aggressive disease courses, requiring frequent glucocorticoid use and surgery. Early adulthood health status shows increased joint and biliary diseases, with a lower quality of life for IBD patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Health
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Long-term health outcomes of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may differ significantly from adult-onset IBD.
- Evaluating the health status in early adulthood for individuals diagnosed with IBD in childhood is crucial for understanding long-term sequelae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the health status and disease history of patients with childhood-onset IBD in early adulthood.
- To compare the long-term health outcomes of pediatric IBD patients with a matched control group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing questionnaires sent to patients diagnosed with childhood-onset IBD between 1987-2003 in Finland.
- Matched controls were randomly selected from the Population Register Centre for comparison.
Main Results:
- 80% of pediatric IBD patients used glucocorticoids; one-third of Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 24% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients underwent surgery.
- Patients reported higher frequencies of joint diseases (5.4% vs 0.2%) and biliary duct diseases (2.7% vs 0.3%) compared to controls (P < 0.001).
- Overall quality of life was reduced in IBD patients (mean score 5.7 vs 6.0), with observed impacts on adult height and weight in males.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric-onset IBD may present a more aggressive disease course necessitating significant medical intervention, including glucocorticoids and surgery.
- At approximately 8 years post-diagnosis, many pediatric IBD patients exhibit active disease and experience a slightly diminished quality of life compared to the general population.
Background:
The long-term sequelae of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may differ between children and adults. We evaluated the health status of patients with pediatric onset of IBD and controls in early adulthood.
Methods:
A questionnaire on the current health status and disease history was mailed to patients with childhood onset IBD diagnosed during 1987-2003 in 2 university hospitals in Finland. Matched controls were randomly selected from the Population Register Centre.
Results:
A total of 368 (67%) of the 550 patients and 646 (37%) controls responded (median age 20 years). Ulcerative colitis (UC) was the most common primary diagnosis (58%) reclassified as Crohn's disease (CD) in 8.5%. Of the patients, 80% had been on glucocorticoids at some point (median duration of the disease 8.3 years). One-third of CD patients had undergone intestinal resection. In UC, total colectomy was common (24%). The frequency of joint diseases (5.4% versus 0.2%) and biliary duct diseases (2.7% versus 0.3%) was higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Overall quality of life was decreased in the patients (mean score 5.7 versus 6.0 in controls, P < 0.001). Further, some impediment on adult height and weight was observed among male patients.
Conclusions:
IBD in children may have a more aggressive disease course than in adults, since most pediatric patients need glucocorticoids, and abdominal surgery is frequent. At 8 years from diagnosis, most patients have active disease and quality of life is slightly lower than in the rest of the population.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...