Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Systematic Scoring Analysis for Intestinal Inflammation in a Murine Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis Model
Published on: February 14, 2021
Descriptive epidemiology of children hospitalized for inflammatory bowel disease in Japan: Inpatient database
Masato Takeuchi1,2, Takeshi Tomomasa3, Hideo Yasunaga4
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
This study analyzed pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) hospitalizations in Japan. Crohn's disease patients had more admissions than ulcerative colitis patients, with sepsis being a leading cause of mortality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), comprises chronic intestinal inflammatory conditions.
- Patients with IBD face risks of hospitalization due to disease exacerbations or complications.
- Limited data exists on pediatric IBD hospitalizations, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the descriptive epidemiology of hospitalizations related to pediatric IBD.
- To analyze demographic characteristics and hospital course of children diagnosed with IBD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the national inpatient claims database in Japan.
- Included children (≤18 years) diagnosed with IBD between 2007-2010.
- Extracted and analyzed demographic data and hospital course statistics.
Main Results:
- 3559 admissions for pediatric IBD (2175 patients): 1999 for CD, 1560 for UC.
- Most admissions (79.7%) were unscheduled; 7.6% were due to IBD complications.
- CD patients had more hospitalizations but shorter stays than UC patients; seven deaths (0.32%) occurred, five from sepsis.
Conclusions:
- Provides a descriptive overview of pediatric IBD inpatients and their hospital course in Japan.
- Highlights differences in hospitalization patterns between pediatric Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Background:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) - are chronic inflammatory disorders of the intestine. Patients with IBD are at risk of hospitalization for disease exacerbation or IBD-associated complications. In the pediatric population, however, there are limited data on IBD hospitalizations. We therefore investigated the descriptive epidemiology of hospitalizations relevant to pediatric IBD.
Methods:
The national inpatient claims database in Japan was searched for children (≤ 18 years old) with a diagnosis of IBD. The study period was 2007-2010. Data on demographic characteristics and descriptive statistics of the hospital course were extracted and analyzed.
Results:
A total of 3559 admissions of 2175 patients met the definition of pediatric IBD: there were 1999 admissions for CD and 1560 admissions for UC. Internists were responsible for patient care in 56.6% of admissions, followed by pediatricians (27.5%). Of 3559 admissions, unscheduled hospitalizations accounted for 79.7%, and 7.6% of hospitalizations were attributable to complications of IBD, including intestinal, extraintestinal and other manifestations. The median age at first admission was 16 years (IQR, 13-17 years), in both the CD and UC groups. Compared with UC patients, CD patients had a higher number of hospitalizations (P < 0.001), but hospital stay was shorter (median: 6 vs 16 days, P < 0.001). There were seven fatal cases of IBD, accounting for 0.32% in the present series, and sepsis was the cause in five.
Conclusions:
This study provides a description of pediatric inpatients with IBD and their hospital course in Japan.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
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...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
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...
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...