The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Epidemiology of IBD

• Published in: Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Vol. 6; no. Supplement_2; pp. S9 - S15
• Main Authors: Coward, Stephanie, Benchimol, Eric I, Kuenzig, M Ellen, Windsor, Joseph W, Bernstein, Charles N, Bitton, Alain, Jones, Jennifer L, Lee, Kate, Murthy, Sanjay K, Targownik, Laura E, Peña-Sánchez, Juan-Nicolás, Rohatinsky, Noelle, Ghandeharian, Sara, Im, James H B, Davis, Tal, Weinstein, Jake, Goddard, Quinn, Gorospe, Julia, Bennett, Jennifer, Caplan, Léa, Bergevin, Maxime, Yang, Xin Yu, Mason, Kate, Sanderson, Rhonda, Brass, Colten, Kaplan, Gilaad G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Inflammatory bowel disease; International organizations; Supplement; Canada; Epidemiology trends; Prevalence; Crohn’s disease; Incidence; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 2515-2084; 2515-2092; 2515-2092
• DOI: 10.1093/jcag/gwad004

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is recognized across the world, though Canada has among the highest burdens of IBD in the world. The Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium (CanGIEC) led a six-province study that demonstrated the compounding prevalence of IBD in Canada from 400 per 100,000 in 2002 to 636 per 100,000 in 2014. The prevalence in 2023 is estimated at 825 per 100,000, meaning that over 320,000 people in Canada are living with IBD. Prevalence is forecasted to rise by 2.44% per year such that 1.1% of the population, 470,000 Canadians, will live with IBD by 2035. The overall incidence of IBD in 2023 is 30 per 100,000 person-years, indicating that over 11,000 Canadians will be newly diagnosed with IBD in 2023. Incidence is forecasted to rise by 0.58% per year up to 32.1 per 100,000 by 2035. The rising incidence of IBD is propelled by pediatric-onset IBD, which is rising by 1.23% per year from 15.6 per 100,000 in 2023 to 18.0 per 100,000 in 2035. In contrast, incidence rates among adults and seniors are relatively stable. Understanding the determinates of IBD has expanded through prospective cohort studies such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Genetic, Environmental, Microbial (CCC-GEM) project. Consensus recommendations towards diet, lifestyle, behavioural and environmental modifications have been proposed by international organizations with the goal of optimizing disease control and ultimately preventing the development of IBD. Despite these efforts, Canadian healthcare systems will need to prepare for the rising number of people living with IBD. Lay Summary Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease that causes the intestines to inflame. IBD is something that is found in every country around the world. We have the highest number of people with IBD in the world compared to the total population. In 2002, one in every 250 (119,000) Canadians had IBD. In 2023, one in every 121 (320,000) Canadians has IBD. By 2035, one in every 91 (470,000) Canadians will have IBD. Roughly 11,000 Canadians will develop IBD in 2023. Rates of children developing IBD are rising. The rates of adults developing IBD are not changing. The rates of seniors developing IBD are also not changing. New research looks for better ways to care for IBD. New research also looks for ways to prevent IBD. One such project is Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Genetic, Environmental, Microbial project. This research suggests diet and lifestyle changes to improve the lives of people with IBD. The same changes may help reduce the number of people who develop IBD.