Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition defined by inflammation in the digestive system. There are two primary subtypes of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which differ in the area affected. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation always begins at the rectum and moves upward, affecting only the mucosa of the large intestine. In Crohn’s disease, inflammation can affect any part of the digestive system, continuously or in patches, and can penetrate the depth of the bowel wall. However, there are also several other types of IBD, including microscopic colitis (lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis), diversion colitis, ischemic colitis, radiation enteritis, and indeterminate IBD. Symptoms are often severe and can include abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and many others. While there are plenty of treatments available for IBD, including medications, surgeries, and dietary approaches, individuals living with IBD often still have trouble achieving remission, a state defined by mucosal healing and a decrease in symptoms.
The Gastrointestinal Society, along with the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, hosted a survey on its website (www.badgut.org), in both English and French, from February 6, 2024, to May 27, 2024, about the unmet needs in IBD. This was a follow-up to two surveys we conducted between 2018 and 2020, but with a focus on how the worldwide effects of the 3Cs: COVID-19, Climate, and Conflict are affecting healthcare for those with IBD. This survey was open internationally and the only qualifying factor was an IBD diagnosis.
