25% to 50% of IBD patients relapse annually.

Approximately 25,000 British Columbians have IBD.

Children (ages 1 to 16) account for 20% to 25% of the IBD population, diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as early as their first year of life.

For every person diagnosed with IBD there are a host of significant others who are also affected — by the emotional toll the disease takes on a family, the economic consequences of lost work time, drug therapy not fully covered by MSP, worry and more.

IBD is a $300-million provincial economic burden, costing about $12,000/patient due to hospitalization, work/school absenteeism and treatment.

IBD is as common as Type 1 diabetes and epilepsy, and more than twice as common as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

The peak age of IBD diagnosis is around 25, just as young adults are establishing their independence and building lives as contributing members of society.