title: Crohn's disease in the over-60 age group: a population based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Late-onset Crohn's disease (CD) may show a distinctive pattern of expression. The aim of our study was to describe the incidence or presentation of CD in the elderly and compare the outcomes in patients < 60 years or > or = 60 years at diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a population based inception cohort of all incident CD cases diagnosed in Brittany (France) between 1994 and 1997. Sixty-three patients were > or = 60 years and 201 were < 60 years at diagnosis. The physicians managing the patients used standardized questionnaires to collect the study data. The questionnaires on outcomes and treatments were completed in 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients > or = 60 years, the annual incidence was 2.5 per 10 persons and clinical features were similar to those in younger patients, except for a higher rate of colon involvement. Among older patients, those with diverticula (29/63, 46%) were more likely to have granulomas (58% vs 33% of patients without diverticula, P < 0.04), but the diagnosis of CD was confirmed by lesions remote from the diverticula in most cases (23/29). Early resection rates were not higher in older patients, who were less likely to require immunosuppressants or re-admission for CD flares, as compared to younger patients. Five year mortality in older patients was 16% but was unrelated to CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Brittany, the age specific incidence, clinical features, and prognosis of CD among the elderly are comparable to those in younger individuals. Colon involvement is more common. Concomitant diverticular disease is common and should prompt a search for CD lesions at other sites to confirm the diagnosis. Older patients are less likely to require immunosuppressants or admission for flares.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Hôpital Pontchillou, Rennes, France. denis.heresbach@chu-rennes.fr
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heresbach
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bretagne
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cruchant
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabadie
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dartois-Hoguin
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Girardot
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jouanolle
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerneis
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Le Verger
authors.forename: Véronnique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Louvain
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pennognon
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richecoeur
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Politis
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robaszkiewicz
authors.forename: Jacques Arnaud
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seyrig
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents