Crohn's disease in the over-60 age group: a population based study.
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.
Heresbach
Denis
D
Service des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Hôpital Pontchillou, Rennes, France. denis.heresbach@chu-rennes.fr
Alexandre
Jean-Luc
JL
Bretagne
Jean-François
JF
Cruchant
Etienne
E
Dabadie
Alain
A
Dartois-Hoguin
Michèle
M
Girardot
Pierre-Marie
PM
Jouanolle
Hervé
H
Kerneis
Jean
J
Le Verger
Jean-Claude
JC
Louvain
Véronnique
V
Pennognon
Lena
L
Richecoeur
Martial
M
Politis
Joseph
J
Robaszkiewicz
Michel
M
Seyrig
Jacques Arnaud
JA
Tron
Isabelle
I
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
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents