Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Tissue Engineering of the Intestine in a Murine Model
Published on: December 1, 2012
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: increasing incidence, decreasing surgery rate, and compromised nutritional
Christian Jakobsen1, Anders Paerregaard, Pia Munkholm
1Department of Pediatrics, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Christian.jakobsen@hvh.regionh.dk
Insights
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence is rising, with increased immunomodulator use and fewer surgeries in children. Crohn's disease patients show poor nutritional status at diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects children, necessitating evaluation of its incidence and management.
- Understanding trends in pediatric IBD is crucial for public health and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence, treatment patterns, surgery rates, and anthropometry of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- To compare current IBD data with historical cohorts to identify trends.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study including children (<15 years) diagnosed with IBD between 2007-2009 in Eastern Denmark, Funen, and Aarhus.
- Comparison with a previous cohort (1998-2006) from Eastern Denmark to evaluate changes in incidence, treatment, and surgery rates.
Main Results:
- Incidence rates per 10^6 children in 2007-2009 were: IBD 6.4, Crohn's disease (CD) 3.2, ulcerative colitis (UC) 3.1.
- Higher incidence rates for IBD and CD were observed compared to 1998-2000 (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively).
- Significant decrease in surgery rates (15.8 to 4.2/100 person-years; P=0.02) and increased immunomodulator (IM) initiation (29.0 to 69.2/100 person-years; P<0.001).
- IM use showed a trend towards decreased surgery risk (RR 0.38). Children with CD presented with poor nutritional status at diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Over 12 years, pediatric IBD incidence has increased.
- There is a trend towards increased immunomodulator use and decreased 1-year surgery rates in pediatric IBD.
- Children diagnosed with Crohn's disease exhibit poor nutritional status.
Background:
The aim was to evaluate the incidence, treatment, surgery rate, and anthropometry at diagnosis of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods:
Patients diagnosed between January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 in Eastern Denmark, Funen, and Aarhus were included from a background population of 668,056 children <15 years of age. For evaluation of incidence, treatment, and surgery rate, a subcohort from Eastern Denmark was extracted for comparison with a previously published population-based cohort from the same geographical area (1998-2006).
Results:
In all, 130 children with IBD: 65 with Crohn's disease (CD), 62 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and three with IBD unclassified (IBDU) were included. The mean incidence rates per 10(6) in 2007-2009 were: IBD: 6.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.4-7.7), CD: 3.2 (2.5-4.1), UC: 3.1 (2.4-4.0) and IBDU: 0.2 (0.05-0.5). Comparing the two cohorts from Eastern Denmark we found higher incidence rates for IBD (5.0 and 7.2 in 1998-2000 and 2007-2009, respectively, P = 0.02) and CD (2.3 versus 3.3, P = 0.04). Furthermore, we found a significant decrease in surgery rates (15.8/100 person-years versus 4.2, P = 0.02) and an increase in the rate of initiating immunomodulators (IM) within the first year (29.0/100 person-years versus 69.2, P < 0.001). IM use was associated with a trend towards a decreased surgery risk (relative risk [RR] 0.38; 0.15-1.0). Children with CD had poor nutritional status at diagnosis compared with the general pediatric population.
Conclusions:
Over the past 12 years we found an increase in the incidence of IBD in children, an increasing use of IM, and decreasing 1-year surgery rates. CD patients had poor nutritional status.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
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...
01:30Inflammatory 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...
01:27Inflammatory 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...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease