Age and UC diagnosis

Yes, good observation!

I did a lot of reading in my early UC days, and I remember coming across something that said statistically, most people developed UC in their 20s, and another significant number of people developed it in their 50s/60s. My GI and I talked about it.
I don't think there was a theory written as to why this was the case. I was reading this in .... 1985? (soon after my diagnosis.)

Most are between 15-25 from what I've read. I was 26

It is interesting epidemiology. There are studies, but it is understudied. I think patients with suspected cause like antibiotics, which could occur at any age, need to be excluded to get a clearer picture. It is also harder to compare studies because some focus on the degree of treatment needed while others focus on the chances of remission (no matter what treatment).

In work on a small sample from 1985, late-onset was more likely UP, less likely to respond to enemas, took longer to get initial remission, and more likely to have shorter remission. /www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4086743

By 2010 another study found that Late-onset patients have better responses to therapy 1 year after diagnosis. /www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20363368 - but medications and treatment protocols had also changed over time.

Life factors, like prior smoking, seems more related to late-onset, while family history more related to early onset. But, both environmental triggers and family history (DNA) are important for both groups. Just some difference in relative importance on average.

There are gender difference too - especially in early onset.

I would suspect there are huge differences by health care coverage status, because uninsured are often undertreated.

I was 46 and initial diagnosis was UP but quickly changed to UC. I was not responsive to lower level oral meds, although took them faithfully. Did not use enemas until years later and had good response to them but no remission until diet modification finally succeeded.

At 46 was very healthy (no gut issues at all) I had undiagnosed fibroid that caused massive blood loss and was clinically anemic (hospitalized for transfusion). UP/UC arrived in the middle of this. No one in my family has any IBD but my DNA tests say Crohn's is likely, celiac is likely and UC is unlikely. I am not celiac per testing.

Am grateful not getting it in my 20's. Wish it had been my 60's (now in other words).

Hi Nana

I was diagnosed at 53 and had a healthy gut prior to diagnosis. I was on Nexium for 10 years and I got C diff- then diagnosed with proctitis. I always wonder if the Nexium messed up my gut flora which triggered Crohns. I am thankful I was diagnosed later in life as well but would have preferred an even later diagnosed (like in my 60's). Either way it sucks.

I developed UC in my early 50's. I had also used Nexium about 10 years for GERD. Curiously my UC started about a year after I stopped using Nexium because my GERD was gone.

I think a round of clindamycin dramatically worsened my UC and I never returned to normal.

I’ve read that the “normal” age to be diagnosed is between teens- early and mid twenties but I was diagnosed at 7 so I really think it depends on the person and when and if there was a reason to trigger it.

My colon free life has been great!! So great thag I’ve forgotten to check up on everyone on this forum!