ACG Education Universe - An online learning resource from the American College of Gastroenterology

Boston University Symposia

The case studies in these two modules were developed for a series of Dinner Meetings convened by Boston University School of Medicine during the spring and fall of 2011.

Crohn's Disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). CD is a disabling gastrointestinal disorder associated with chronic intestinal inflammation and can affect both the small and large intestines. As many as 1.4 million persons in the United States suffer from IBD, with approximately 30,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The peak age of onset of IBD is young adulthood (ages 15 to 30), though the disease can strike at any age and is often seen in children under 15.

Beyond its clinical impact, Crohn's Disease carries significant economic consequences and has a major impact on patients' quality of life. Because the disease affects most patients at a young age, it carries with it the prospect of years of medical care, hospitalization, and surgery. Recent studies have demonstrated that the total direct cost of Crohn's Disease in the United States in 1990 was estimated at $1.0 to $1.2 billion. Indirect costs for lost productivity were estimated to range from $0.4 to $0.8 billion. The average cost of hospitalization, excluding physician fees, was $12,528. Surgery accounted for the majority of hospitalizations, and nearly 40% of their total costs. Crohn's Disease disrupts the physical, social, and emotional well-being of patients, and has a deleterious impact on patients' quality of life.

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