Clinical characteristics of young-onset ischemic colitis

Ischemic colitis (IC) typically develops in the elderly, where hypertension, cerebrocardiovascular disease, and past history of abdominal surgery are regarded as risk factors. Although there have been reports of younger patients with IC, its clinical features remain unclear.

The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of IC in young adults.

Three hundred fifty-nine patients were diagnosed as having IC at five hospitals across Nagano prefecture, Japan. Clinical data were compared between the young patient group [20-45 years, n = 53 (15%)] and the elderly patient group [>45 years, n = 306 (85%)], as well as with age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (n = 156).

The presence of a smoking habit and hyperuricemia were significantly higher in the young patient group compared with the elderly patient group (42 vs. 19%, P = 0.001 and 8 vs. 1%, P = 0.019, respectively), which was confirmed by multiple logistic regression analysis (P = 0.001, odds ratio 3.239 and P = 0.028, odds ratio 16.907, respectively). Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis of the young IC patient group and age- and gender-matched healthy individuals demonstrated that these two factors were strongly associated with IC development (P = 0.008, odds ratio 2.49 for smoking habit and P = 0.039, odds ratio 6.37 for hyperuricemia).

High prevalences of a smoking habit and hyperuricemia are characteristic features of IC in the young adult population.