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Life expectancy lower being diagnosed Crohn's under 20?

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Posted 7/14/2015 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I recently found out that my girlfriend has Crohn's disease. The discussion came up when she mentioned that she was unhealthy when she was younger and I asked her to elaborate. She is 21 now, so I'm assuming she was diagnosed prior to age 20. Being someone with high anxiety, I immediately went to "Dr. Google" to see what Crohn's was all about. I found a study (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/550715_3) that talked about the life expectancy being 64 years when diagnosed under 20. I'm starting to panic after reading that. I've found some sites that say the life expectancy isn't any different, and others say it is when diagnosed younger. Could someone please shed some light on this? I am trying to calm myself down.

Thank you so much.
Posted 7/14/2015 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure about this, I always thought what brings down life expectancy is complications from Crohns such as infection etc.
Posted 7/14/2015 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, I was DX in my early 20's I'm 48 now, I flared for 23 years out of the 24 I've been sick and only recently finally found my first remission with Humira....my CD affects my colon mainly but has affected other parts of my GI tract as well but stayed in a flared state specifically in my colon for over 2 decades, now that's suppose to increase my chances of colon cancer as well compared to the general population (technically after every 10 yrs of constant inflammation can increase the risk of colon cancer) and to date, no colon or any other GI tract.

Sadly, we're more likely to live a very long and miserable life rather than a short one, with the exception of major complications that can happen with having IBD but those are pretty rare for the majority.
Posted 7/14/2015 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
If you are afraid to be with your girlfriend because she might have a shorter life expectancy, then you are probably in the wrong relationship. But if you are asking out of concern for HER, then my perspective is that there is so much new research going on that the under 20 folks have a better chance of seeing a cure, or at least better treatment options than us old folks. It really depends on the severity of the individual's disease course. Statistics like that really aren't at all useful. For most folks, Crohn's is a disease that goes in and out of remission, so there are time periods of health and times of flares and illness. If you are someone who can't deal with that because of your own anxiety issues, then I think you two should talk about it now before you get too committed.
Posted 7/15/2015 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Blimey. There are so many things in life that can get you why worry about that specifically. I don't look forward past 5 years... And I'm a darn sight older. Just get on with life and enjoy it while you can... Worry about what could be is such a waste of energy. Cross each bridge when you get to it ... Sorry for excessive use of cliches! 😊
Posted 7/15/2015 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Personally I don't take too much stock in the doom reports (i.e salt is bad for you, salt is good for you, eggs are bad eggs are good...) I was diagnosed at 31(I'm 41 now), but I've always lived with issues since I was in the single digits (sickly, chronic intestinal issues that would be so painful it induced a level of shock and induce vomiting to boot...) I don't know if this has shortened my lifespan, but the only thing I worry about is getting my current issues under control, and try to live the best I can now and for the future. I'd say be supportive of her, love her and live in the now, and don't worry about some scientists findings that might not mean anything for her, just try to improve her quality of life in the here and now.
Posted 7/15/2015 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Crohn's itself doesn't really lower our life expectancy. It's all the usual stuff: nutrition, general level of health, that sort of thing. Same as anyone else. Where the discrepancy comes in is that we're more likely to have a bunch of those factors.

It's not really something worth worrying about, though.

There is a point at which medical advancements extend life expectancy faster than the people young enough to take advantage can age. That point has a specific name, but I don't remember what it is. Anyway, there are theories that we are rapidly approaching that point, and that people in their early 20s are likely going to be the earliest generation to take advantage of it.
Posted 7/16/2015 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
I think any study that would put the life expectancy at 64 is antiquated. You have to take into account the advancements in treatments. That's not counting the future advancements over the next 10 to 20 years.

All things considered, the realistic life expectancy might not be any different than anyone else's.
Posted 7/16/2015 1:03 PM (GMT 0)

rrs623 said...
I recently found out that my girlfriend has Crohn's disease. The discussion came up when she mentioned that she was unhealthy when she was younger and I asked her to elaborate. She is 21 now, so I'm assuming she was diagnosed prior to age 20. Being someone with high anxiety, I immediately went to "Dr. Google" to see what Crohn's was all about. I found a study (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/550715_3) that talked about the life expectancy being 64 years when diagnosed under 20. I'm starting to panic after reading that. I've found some sites that say the life expectancy isn't any different, and others say it is when diagnosed younger. Could someone please shed some light on this? I am trying to calm myself down.

Thank you so much.

I have no idea why you are worrying about this. You say your girlfriend is only 21 so you are talking about something which is decades and decades in the future. Who knows what they will come up with over the next 20, 30, 40 years. So even if life expectancy is lower (and there is no real convincing evidence of this) that obviously does not take into account potential advances in treatment.

Remember - no one can see the future and you never know what's round the corner, no point in worrying about things that are decades away.
Posted 7/16/2015 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Good points Jonny_Murray,

After all, anyone has the potential to get an IBD, including the OP, I often think how so many people don't even realize that fact when they hear about someone having crohn's or ulcerative colitis and learn a little about it and probably get grossed out by it even (naturally, who wouldn't, I know I would have, in fact I did when it happened to me) funny thing is though, when people learn about IBD they likely don't think it can ever happen to them.
Posted 7/16/2015 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I read a recent study that life expectancy was shorter for those with UC whom take medication vs those who get their colon removed so one can speculate that life expectancy would be shorter for CD patients due to medication and the longer you take them, the shorter the lifespan. I am just speculating...
Posted 7/18/2015 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Go to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's website at ccfa.org. I know back in the day when I bought a book on CD, before the internet, that they had statistics on life expectancy and the percentages were only slightly elevated in comparison to healthy persons - like 2-3%. Treatment options are better now, so the mortality rates are probably better.

You can die from complications, but it's rare. At your ages, your chances of a fatal car crash are far higher - no one knows how or when they will die. If you're worried about her dying at age 64 when she's only 21, you're trying to look too far ahead.
Posted 7/22/2015 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the information everyone.
Posted 7/22/2015 11:02 PM (GMT 0)

pmedic said...
I read a recent study that life expectancy was shorter for those with UC whom take medication vs those who get their colon removed so one can speculate that life expectancy would be shorter for CD patients due to medication and the longer you take them, the shorter the lifespan. I am just speculating...

Do you remember where you read it? Would like to see that study if possible.
Posted 7/23/2015 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/550715_3

There is the study. That link takes you to page 3 of 4 for the study.
Posted 7/23/2015 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, I thought you were referring to the original study, I misread.
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