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Ulcerative colitis - Risk Factors

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ulcerative colitis.

Alternative Names

Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis; Colitis - ulcerative

Risk Factors:

About 1 million Americans suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and about half of these patients have ulcerative colitis. There are several risk factors for ulcerative colitis.

Age

Ulcerative colitis can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in people ages 15 - 35 and, less commonly, in people ages 50 - 75.

Gender

Men and women are equally at risk for developing ulcerative colitis.

Family History

Ulcerative colitis tends to run in families, with up to 20% of patients having a close relative who also has the disease.

Race and Ethnicity

Ulcerative colitis is more common among whites than non-whites. Jewish people of Ashkenzi (Eastern European) descent have a heightened risk for ulcerative colitis.

Smoking

Smoking appears to increases the risk of developing Crohn's disease, and can worsen the course of the disease. Conversely, smoking appears to decrease the risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Because of the hazards of smoking, however, it should never be used to protect against ulcerative colitis.

Resources

www.ccfa.org -- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
www.gastro.org -- American Gastroenterological Association
www.acg.gi.org -- American College of Gastroenterology
www2.niddk.nih.gov -- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

References

Baumgart DC and Sandborn WJ. Inflammatory bowel disease: clinical aspects and established and evolving therapies. Lancet. 2007;369(9573):1641-57.

Chande N, MacDonald JK and McDonald JW. Methotrexate for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD006618.

Clark M, Colombel JF, Feagan BC, Fedorak RN, Hanauer SB, Kamm MA, et al. American gastroenterological association consensus development conference on the use of biologics in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, June 21-23, 2006. Gastroenterology. 2007 Jul;133(1):312-39.

Langan RC, Gotsch PB, Krafczyk MA and Skillinge DD. Ulcerative colitis: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007; 76(9):1323-30.

Mahid SS, Minor KS, Soto RE, Hornung CA and Galandiuk S. Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006;81(11):1462-71.

Mallon P, McKay D, Kirk S and Gardiner K. Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD005573.

Reviewed last on: 12/1/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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