There are inconsistent reports on age-related differences in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On the basis of patient information, we describe the clinical presentation and therapy in relation to age at diagnosis in longstanding pediatric IBD.
Two surveys were conducted in children and young adults (age: 10-25 years) by pretested postal questionnaires. The main analyses are descriptive, showing proportions and distributions per grouped age of diagnosis. Exploratory logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic and disease-related factors associated with prognosis. Recent disease course, use of biological therapy, and resecting surgery were chosen as indicators of disease severity. Patients with a diagnosis in infancy (<2 years of age) are presented as a case series.
Information of 1280 cases was available [804 Crohn's disease (CD), 382 ulcerative colitis (UC), 94 IBD not specified] (response: 44.6 and 49.6%). Stable remission during the preceding year was reported by 675 (56.7%) patients; 825 (60.9%) patients reported feeling currenty well. Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy was reported by 33% of CD patients and 9.3% of UC patients, immunomodulation in 82.1 and 63.2%, and corticosteroids by 78.4 and 76.1%, respectively (ever use). Age at diagnosis was not associated with indicators of severe disease. Diagnosis in infancy was reported by 37 patients.
Our data do not support age at diagnosis-related differences in prognosis in pediatric-onset IBD.