Lebanon, Beirut: More than 125 gastroenterologists, hepatologists and internal medicine specialists gathered recently at the first Middle East Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) summit, which was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The two-day event was organized by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, focused on the impact of delayed diagnosis on IBD progression, tools for early diagnosis and referral, the important role patient organizations have to drive optimal levels of awareness, as well as diagnostics and therapeutic markers.
Dr. Ala Sharara, Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, American University of Beirut Medical Center said, “People of any age can get IBD, but it's usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40.[1] In Lebanon, more studies are needed to examine local risk factors, disease genotypes and phenotypes, and epidemiologic time trends. The psychosocial burden of IBD in Lebanon appears significant.[2] In a recent study that included 15,073 individuals, 8 had a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and 16 of ulcerative colitis, giving an age-adjusted prevalence of 53.1 per 100,000 people for Crohn’s disease and 106.2 per 100,000 people for ulcerative colitis[3].”
“Some of the common challenges amongst IBD adapters, deniers and submitters include spending time and emotional energy managing the symptoms and not considering the long-term management of their disease. IBD ends up affecting personal and professional choices. Our insights suggest that people living with IBD are troubled by their symptoms and the impact of the disease on their lives. Some are also frustrated in a diagnosis wilderness with no consensus on how to treat their condition. There is a direct educational need to drive multidisciplinary care through early diagnosis and advanced disease management,” added Dr. Sharara.
Regional experts also highlighted that in Lebanon, more awareness is needed to increase the understanding of IBD and its impact on patients. Increasing awareness may contribute to some of the rise in incidence, while recognition of Crohn's disease as distinct from ulcerative colitis may also contribute to some of the incidence shifts between the two forms of IBD.[4]
Internationally, the incidence of IBD is approximately 0.5-24.5 cases per 100,000 person-years for ulcerative colitis and 0.1-16 cases per 100,000 person-years for Crohn disease. Overall, the prevalence for IBD is 396 cases per 100,000 persons annually. The annual incidence of Crohn disease in the Middle East is 5.0 per 100,000 persons; whereas the incidence rate of ulcerative colitis is 6.3 per 100,000 persons .[5]
IBD is a group of disorders that impact the digestive tract. Types of IBD include ulcerative colitis, which causes long lasting inflammation and sores in the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum, as well as Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, often spreading deep into affected tissues.[6] Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease usually involve severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss.
-Ends-
About Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Gastroenterology (GI), Neuroscience, and Rare Diseases. We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions.
For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com
[1] NHS | Inflammatory Bowel Disease | www.nhs.uk/conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/
[2] Clinical epidemiology of IBD in Lebanon | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206720
[3] Clinical epidemiology of IBD in Lebanon | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6593950_Clinical_Epidemiology_of_Inflammatory_Bowel_Disease_in_Lebanon
[4] Inflammatory Bowel Disease | A Global Disease | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3603483/
[5] Medscape | IBD | https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/179037-overview#a5
[6] Mayo Clinic | Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353315
© Press Release 2019Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
