Photo Credit: Narong Niamfoi

IBD in older adults has become a global public health burden, according to a study published in Autoimmunity Reviews. Researchers assessed the global burden of IBD in the older adult population using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. From 1990 to 2019, the number of prevalent IBD cases, incident cases, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and deaths in older adults increased significantly. There was a downward trend for age-standardized incidence rates, prevalence, DALYs, and mortality. Consistently high disease burdens were seen in the Americas, European regions, and high Sociodemographic Index (SDI) countries. The fastest growth in prevalence and incidence and the fastest decline in DALYs and mortality were seen in middle SDI countries. For prevalence, incidence, and DALYs for IBD, the age-standardized rates were highest among adults aged 60-64, while age-standardized rates of mortality were highest in those aged 80-84 and 85-89. The results indicate a need for “tailored interventions to mitigate this burden effectively,” investigators wrote.