Crohn's disease occurs most frequently in North America and Europe, especially in the northern latitudes of these locations. It is rare in much of South America and Africa (except for South Africa).1
Slightly more women than men have Crohn's disease. The disease tends to affect younger people, with most diagnoses occurring between ages 15 and 30. Another small peak of diagnosis occurs in people between 60 and 80 years of age.2
Crohn's disease is more common among smokers than nonsmokers.
References
Citations
Sands BE (2006). Crohn's disease. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2459–2498. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Friedman S, Lichtenstein GR (2006). Crohn's disease. In MM Wolfe et al., eds., Therapy of Digestive Disorders, 2nd ed., pp. 785–801. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | October 9, 2008 |
