Older Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Epidemiology in the United States: 2000-2021

As the United States population ages, the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among older adults are on the rise.

This study provides updated estimates of the IBD burden in older adults and examines changes from 2000 to 2021.

We analyzed data on IBD incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in older adults (> 70 years) in the United States from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, stratified by sex and state. Using the Joinpoint regression model, we evaluated age-standardized rate changes from 2000 to 2021.

The study estimated 11,250 new cases, 180,880 prevalent cases, and 80,410 DALYs from IBD in older adults in the United States in 2021. In 2021, older adults-onset represented 15% of the total IBD population in the United States, a 3% increase since 2000. Between 2000 and 2021, the incidence (Annual percent change [APC]: 0.58%, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.66%) and DALYs rates (APC: 0.34%, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.62%) increased, while the prevalence rates remained stable. Incidence rate increased at a higher extent in older adults-onset IBD in females compared to that of males. Forty-seven states experienced increased older adults-onset IBD incidence rates during this period.

From 2000 to 2021, the incidence and disability rates of older adults-onset IBD increased in the United States. Although older males initially had higher incidence rates, the rates have disproportionately increased among older females. The proportion of older adults-onset IBD cases and related disability has also grown, highlighting the urgent need for strategies to address the rising IBD burden in older adults.