crohn's disease in canada: stats, impact and resources

according to research , roughly 600 to 650 children under the age of 16 are diagnosed with ibd each year, and the rapid increase in young people is so significant that numbers have doubled in this age group since the early 2000s.

what is crohn’s disease?

• pain in the abdomen
• anemia
• chronic diarrhea
• fatigue
• fever
• fistulas, which are abnormal growths of tissue connecting two organs
• weight loss
• stunted growth, puberty delays, and bone deficits in children

• joint pain due to inflammation
• liver disease, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis
• skin conditions, including erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum

• air pollution
• overuse of antibiotics
• poor diet
• living in a developed country
• vitamin d deficiencies
• overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (nsaids) such as advil and aleve
• smoking cigarettes
• dysbiosis, or disturbance, to the balance of the microbiome
• faulty immune reaction

current crohn’s disease statistics in canada

according to recent research on crohn’s disease and ibd, canada has the highest burden of ibd out of anywhere in the world. that means that ibd has the worst impact on canadians and leads to the most disability. the commonality of the disorder has given crohn’s disease more attention in recent years, especially considering the staggering growth rate since the early 2000s. reports estimate that by 2035, over 1 per cent of the canadian population will be diagnosed with ibd.

people of any age can be diagnosed with crohn’s disease, and the steady incline of cases continues to affect people of all ages. when broken down, two age groups seem to be the most affected and are projected to experience the most significant growth over the next decade—children under six and older adults. the predictive analysis found that cases will almost double from 841 per 100,000 older canadians in 2014 to 1534 per 100,000 older canadians in 2035.

a surge of new ibd cases in children was found by the 2023 impact of inflammatory bowel disease in canada report put out by crohn’s and colitis canada. while the exact number of crohn’s cases in children is lumped in with other ibds, the information has found that early childhood-onset ibd has risen significantly. currently, it’s estimated that roughly 9.68 per 100,000 canadian children under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with some form of ibd. those most affected by this surge are children under the age of six. crohn’s disease and ibd in children are remarkably different than those in adults in severity, location, and adverse effects on other markers of overall health.

impact of crohn’s disease on canadian society

in less than six years, costs associated with ibd have almost doubled from $2.57 billion to $5.38 billion in canada . the increased prevalence of crohn’s and ibd isn’t the only piece of the puzzle, though. inflation rates that have skyrocketed in the last few years have also contributed to the significant cost jump.

• unemployment: $1.14 billion
• missing work or being unable to work while at the job: $285 million
• caregiving: $58 million
• medications and supportive care not covered by ohip or insurance: $536 million

social impact of crohn’s on relationships, mental health, and risk of other diseases

the stigma surrounding crohn’s disease and its associated symptoms can make life difficult for those who have it. relationships, especially, may suffer. because of the ailments and frequent need to use the bathroom, many people with crohn’s disease experience a decline in relationship satisfaction due to how it affects how they see their bodies, their sex lives and libido, and their ability to perform daily tasks or go on dates with ease during a flare-up.

the condition can also affect relationships because it can change how a person sees their future. for example, many people of childbearing age have valid concerns about having children after being diagnosed with ibd. the impact of crohn’s, how it will affect pregnancy outcomes and the delivery process, and how ibd medications can affect an unborn child are all reasons for concern among people who wish to have children but are not sure if it’s a possibility for them after receiving a crohn’s diagnosis. according to reports, as many as 17 per cent of females choose to forgo having children because of these factors.

people with crohn’s disease and other forms of ibd are also 1.5-2 times more likely to develop a co-occurring psychiatric disorder when compared to the general population. women, especially, are the most affected by mental health struggles driven by crohn’s disease. they are 50 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression alongside their ibd.  of the total number of canadians who have crohn’s disease, roughly 21 per cent will also have clinical anxiety, and 15 per cent will also have clinical depression. young adults and youth are the most afflicted by these co-occurring disorders.

• inflammation
• changes to the gut microbiota that affect mood
• chronic stress about their condition and coping with symptoms
• use of medications that affect mood, such as corticosteroids

• colorectal: disease activity
• extra-intestinal cancers: immunosuppressant medications
• lymphoma and non-melanoma skin cancer: immunosuppressant medications
• hepatobiliary cancer: associated with complications of crohn’s, specifically primary sclerosing cholangitis
• lung cancer: unknown connection; research is ongoing

resources available for crohn’s disease in canada

crohn’s & colitis canada features a support section on their website that can help point people in the right direction when they need help with their crohn’s diagnosis. they can provide:

• links to apps that can help manage crohn’s disease as well as find washrooms while out in the world to lessen the anxiety about being able to find a restroom if need be
• information surrounding crohn’s disease put forth by experts in the field
• series and webinars for people with crohn’s disease interested in learning more about their disease, its progression, and what they can do to help themselves
• access to groups to connect with others who also have been diagnosed with crohn’s disease
• links to camp got 2 go, a youth summer camp for those who have ibd

the future of crohn’s disease in canada