Old-age inflammatory bowel disease onset: A different problem?

Table 2 Summary of inflammatory bowel disease onset in the elderly

Home messages
10%-15% patients with inflammatory bowel disease > 60 years
12% UC patients
16% CD patients
Differential diagnosis with colitis associated to diverticulosis, ischemic colitis, infectious colitis (C.difficile)
Ulcerative colitis: proctitis/left colitis is more frequent
CD: Granulomatous colitis > frequent than ileocecal
Medical treatment
Same treatment options as younger patients
Increased rate of complications with steroids
Similar response, but recurrence less frequent
Surgery: Equal indications, ileoanal reservoir is secure
More hospitalizations
Similar mortality, increased in hospitalized patients, comorbidity

UC: Ulcerative colitis; CD: Crohn’s disease.