Anecdotal observation that IBD is increasing

While it is becoming more common in developed countries it's not as common as we think. about 1.4 million Americans suffer with it and U. S. has the highest number of people with ibd per capita

Also technically epidemic refers to an communicable agent of infection spreading across a continent.

IBD is too specific of a name to encapsulate the far bigger problem that's happening worldwide. Is gut dysbiosis, which is the precursor to IBD, increasing and causing IBD-like symptoms in the population? Absolutely. I think the surging sales of drugs like prilosec, immodium, and even fiber supplements indicate an epidemic similar to obesity. We know for certain that the rates of gastrointestinal disorders (IBD, IBS, colon cancer, etc) are increasing at an alarming frequency, and those with higher genetic susceptibility will have the risk of UC. I posted a few studies showing the hospitalizations from UC in the pediatric population increased 2 to 3 fold in the past decade, and that's not good.

I can't help but think the population is being primed for IBD with every passing day. The food supply is riddled with ingredients that damage gut bacteria, inflammatory omega-6 oils like soybean, canola, rapeseed are virtually on every store shelf, antibiotics are being prescribed incorrectly 8 out of 10 times, stress levels are insanely high with people working 40-80 hours a week, and people are generally sleeping like crap. Studies have shown all of the above increase the risk of major health problems.

Nevertheless, consumers have the unprecedented opportunity to change all the above things and take control of their health.

It is possible IBD is becoming more common, but I have a feeling that there are a LOT of people out there with IBS, which would account for more people wanting to use the toilet stalls. I think that the way things are heading with regard to food production, farming, etc., that more and more people will become ill with IBD in the future.

And it's highest rate tends to change from province to province, for the longest time Alberta was considered the "hot-bed" for IBD per capita, then once I read that it was Nova Scotia....and I'm sure some other provinces have also taken the lead. It's definitely becoming more prevalent around the world and it continues to do so. I think the same with IBS as well.

Just to add to what Marauder stated - The incidence of Early On-set Paediatric IBD has literally doubled in Ontario since 1999 (Children under 18). And this is sort of an old stat - so basically doubled over the course of about ~10 years.

The scary (and sad) part is it's doubling in very young children (0-10 years old). They are getting hit hard right now by the disease - which is not 'normal' per say.

It said somewhere around 50 to 60 kids for every 100,000 under 18 in population now.

So something is up for sure. At least in Ontario.

I think that was from the CCFA report.

imagardener2 said...
Although more non-Caucasians are developing IBD I believe the Ontario and US/European incidence points to a genetic link, weakness if you will. I believe Irish lead IBD genetically, which I am 25% and 75% Northern European (per 23andme). When I told my PCP I have UC at our first meeting he said he could have predicted it by my fair freckled skin.

Yeah, I'm a quarter Irish and the Crohn's came down through the Irish side of my family. I don't know anything about the Irish lot, but I have a brother and cousin with Crohn's. I dunno about my cousin, but me and my brother didn't take any antibiotics before we got it. I've still only taken about 2 courses of antibiotics in my whole life, and one of those was when I had a massive flare-up.

IBD has been around for 1000s of years - it's not a new thing. It's just a question of whether more people are getting it now who wouldn't have done 50 years ago. It seems like the answer to that is 'yes', but it's still a relatively uncommon disease.

I have wondered if it is becoming more common or if my awareness has simply increased since I developed it. Interesting and sad news about kids developing IBD so much these days.

I am 85% Irish/English and 99.9% European according to my23andme, and my maternal grandmother (Irish and French) had CD in her small bowel and had severe diverticulitis to the point where she had a permanent ostomy and lost 3 feet of her small bowel. My paternal grandfather (his mother was born in Ireland but the paternal line has been in the US since the 1600's) always had unexplained bleeding in his colon whenever he quit smoking (so he decided to smoke instead) and also had a lot of polyps, but was never diagnosed with anything in particular.
My dad has terrible IBS-D and my mother has a sister who has IBS, but that's it for my family (so far).

Pretty sure that folks of Ashke**** Jewish descent (Jews whose ancestors are from Eastern Europe) have the most risk since it's always listed as one of the four or five risk factors for UC:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/basics/risk-factors/con-20043763

Genetically, I'm 94% Ashke**** Jewish.

I know 8 people with IBD including myself. None are related. I worked in a group of 10 where 3 had it. I think it's way more common than the stats show.