We are treating growing numbers of older inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. These lifelong diseases cause inflammation in the gut. Unfortunately, older patients are often left out of clinical trials and therefore our treatment of them is not as well tested as it is for younger patients. Research suggests older patients are more likely to experience serious problems from IBD medications such as infections, cancers and hospitalisation. Perhaps because of this, they are often given treatments which aren’t as effective and may experience poor control of their condition. Frailty is common in older age. It develops because as we get older our bodies change and can lose their inbuilt reserves. These changes mean older people with frailty can experience sudden changes in their health. In this study we want to understand how many IBD patients in the UK have frailty and what age, gender, ethnicity and social group they are. We also want to learn what medications frail IBD patients receive and whether they are more likely to have serious problems such as being admitted to hospital or cancer. This information will help us look after IBD patients with frailty and plan further research to help do this better.
01/09/2023
2 years
