Is IBD an underrecognized health problem in minority groups?

As many people know, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex condition affecting the intestine, which is the part of the digestive tract that helps digest food and remove water, salt, and waste. But you might not know this: in recent years in the US, IBD is being diagnosed more often among people who are Black, Hispanic/Latinx, East and Southeast Asian, or from other minority groups than it was in past decades. Is this a true rise in cases? Is IBD underrecognized in minority populations? While we don’t have all the answers yet, exploring health disparities in IBD and explaining its symptoms may encourage more people to get the health care they need. What is IBD? IBD is a chronic inflammatory condition in the intestine that may steadily progress, or repeatedly flare up (relapse) and calm down (remit). The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD): Ulcerative colitis affects the rectum and colon alone. Crohn’s disease can affect any portion of the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, and can lead to complications such as abscesses, strictures, and fistulas. Both conditions frequently involve organs outside of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the joints, skin, and eyes. What do we know about IBD among minority groups? Traditionally, IBD has been thought of as a disease that largely affects people who are white. For every 100,000 individuals, IBD occurs in about 10 Hispanic/Latinx individuals, 25 Black individuals, and 70 ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Digestive Disorders Health Health care disparities Inflammation Source Type: blogs