Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
Prevalence, incidence, and treatment patterns of fistulizing Crohn disease: A US population-based cohort study
Yanni Fan1, Ling Zhang1, Gil Y Melmed2
1Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT.
Background:
Population-based studies for patients with fistulizing Crohn disease (CD), a severe complication of CD, are limited.
Objective:
To report estimates of the prevalence and incidence rates of fistulizing CD in the United States and examine associated treatment patterns among incident cases.
Methods:
This retrospective, observational cohort study used a US administrative claims database from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019, with at least 365 days' continuous insurance enrollment. The prevalent patient population comprised patients with incident or existing cases of fistulizing CD. Crude, age, and sex-adjusted prevalence and incidence rates of fistulizing CD were estimated. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and CD-related medications and medical procedures were examined for patients with fistulizing CD.
Results:
The overall crude prevalence (prevalent cases: n = 5,082) and incidence rates (incident cases: n = 2,399) between 2017 and 2019 were 25.2 (95% CI = 24.5-25.9) per 100,000 persons and 6.9 (95% CI = 6.6-7.1) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence and incidence rates were 24.9 (95% CI = 24.2-25.6) per 100,000 persons and 7.0 (95% CI = 6.7-7.3) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Approximately half of all patients with incident fistulizing CD were prescribed biologic therapies within 1 year of an incident fistula diagnosis, with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies the most widely prescribed biologic class; antibiotic and corticosteroid use was also common. Among the incident cases, approximately one-third of patients required surgery during the follow-up period, most of which occurred within 3 months of the index date.
Conclusions:
This study reports age- and sex-adjusted prevalence and incidence rates for fistulizing CD of 24.9 per 100,000 persons and 7.0 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. As a concerning complication of CD, first-year treatment of fistulas in the United States commonly includes anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy, and there is a considerable surgical burden.
More Related Videos
05:08A TNBS-Induced Rodent Model to Study the Pathogenic Role of Mechanical Stress in Crohn's Disease
Published on: March 1, 2022
07:38Multimodal Quantitative Phase Imaging with Digital Holographic Microscopy Accurately Assesses Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Wound Healing
Published on: September 13, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory 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...
Inflammatory 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...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
Inflammatory 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...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents