IBD Facts and Stats

Key points

  • U.S. prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is estimated between 2.4 and 3.1 million, with differing burden across groups.
  • IBD prevalence and health care costs are rising.
  • In 2018, the total annual U.S. health care costs for IBD were about $8.5 billion.
  • Biologic prescription drugs have shifted the patterns of cost and service use.
Large group of people making the shape of a medical cross.

The basics

Illustration of many diverse people of different shapes, sizes, and colors in a crowed moving in all directions.
Data shows IBD prevalence is rising in the US overall.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of life-long diseases affecting the intestines. The main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Prevalence in the United States

Depending on the data source, current estimates of IBD in the United States vary considerably:

  • Ranging from 2.4–2.8 million IBD patients based on administrative claims data.1
  • Up to 3.1 million adults with the disease based on national survey data.23

The prevalence of IBD is rising in the United States.41

IBD prevalence differs across groups.23‎

Understanding the burden of IBD on different U.S. populations allows us to identify inequities in care and develop or improve care for those most in need.

Differences across groups

Racial and ethnic groups

Prevalence rates for IBD are consistently highest in non-Hispanic White populations.1256

Recent estimates of the racial and ethnic distribution of IBD prevalence among U.S. adults and children were:1

  • Non-Hispanic White patients—0.8%.
  • Black patients—0.5%.
  • Hispanic patients—0.5%.
  • Asian American patients—0.4%.

The difference between racial and ethnic groups may be narrowing, as some studies find prevalence increasing among minority groups.567

Older age groups

IBD prevalence increases with increasing age.412 Highest prevalence was found among adults aged 45 years and above.2

Prevalence across health behaviors

Compared to adults without IBD, adults with IBD are more likely to:2

  • Have formerly smoked (21% vs. 26%).
  • Sleep less than 7 hours a day (32% vs. 38%).
  • Fall short of aerobic and muscle- strengthening physical activity guidelines (45% vs. 50%).
  • Have experienced serious psychological distress (3% vs. 7%).

Adults with IBD were also more likely to have other (comorbid) chronic conditions.2

IBD health care costs

The cost of IBD care is rising in the United States.8910

A recent study estimated the 2018 total overall costs for IBD-related care were $8.5 billion, with the largest distributions by type of service:11

  • Prescribed medicine: 71%.
  • Inpatient visits: 18%.
  • Office-based visits: 9%
  • Emergency visits: 2%.

Effective but highly priced biologic medication have improved outcomes and rates of remission. They have also affected health care costs and changed the frequency different types of services are used.8910121314

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
  1. Lewis JD, Parlett LE, Jonsson Funk ML, et al. Incidence, prevalence, and racial and ethnic distribution of inflammatory bowel disease in the United States. Gastroenterology. 2023;165(5):1197–1205.e2. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2023.07.003
  2. Xu F, Dahlhamer JM, Zammitti EP, Wheaton AG, Croft JB. Health-risk behaviors and chronic conditions among adults with inflammatory bowel disease — United States, 2015 and 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:190–195. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6706a4
  3. Dahlhamer JM, Zammitti EP, Ward BW, Wheaton AG, Croft JB. Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among adults aged ≥18 Years — United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(42):1166-1169. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6542a3
  4. Ye Y, Manne S, Treem WR, Bennett D. Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric and adult populations: Recent estimates from large national databases in the United States, 2007–2016. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2019;26(4):619–625. doi:10.1093/ibd/izz182
  5. Barnes EL, Nowell WB, Venkatachalam S, Dobes A, Kappelman MD. Racial and ethnic distribution of inflammatory bowel disease in the United States. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(7):983-987. doi:10.1093/ibd/izab219
  6. Afzali A, Cross RK. Racial and ethnic minorities with inflammatory bowel disease in the United States: A systematic review of disease characteristics and differences. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016;22(8):2023–2040. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000835
  7. Xu F, Carlson SA, Liu Y, Greenlund KJ. Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries — United States, 2001–2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(19):698–701. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7019a2
  8. Ma C, Smith MK, Guizzetti L, et al. Assessing national trends and disparities in ambulatory, emergency department, and inpatient visits for inflammatory bowel disease in the United States (2005–2016). Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(11):2500–2509.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2020.01.023
  9. Singh S, Qian AS, Nguyen NH, et al. Trends in U.S. Health Care Spending on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 1996-2016. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(3):364-372. doi:10.1093/ibd/izab074
  10. Click B, Lopez R, Arrigain S, Schold J, Regueiro M, Rizk M. Shifting cost-drivers of health care expenditures in inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2020;26(8):1268–1275. doi:10.1093/ibd/izz256
  11. Peery AF, Crockett SD, Murphy CC, et al. Burden and cost of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States: Update 2021. Gastroenterology. 2022;162(2):621–644. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.017
  12. Berg DR, Colombel J-F, Ungaro R. The Role of early biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2019;25(12):1896-1905. doi:10.1093/ibd/izz059
  13. Buchner AM, Schneider Y, Lichtenstein GR. Biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):45-56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000844
  14. El-Matary W, Kuenzig ME, Singh H, et al. Disease-Associated costs in children with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2020;26(2):206-215. doi:10.1093/ibd/izz120