Young Adult Patients With Paediatric-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have a Higher Educational Level and a Higher Employment Rate Than the General Population.

Background & aims: There are few published data on the impact of paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel diseases on education and employment. The objective of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the educational level and occupational status of adult patients with paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel diseases from the EPIMAD Registry.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were (i) a diagnosis of paediatric-onset (< 17 years at diagnosis) inflammatory bowel diseases, and (ii) age 25 or over at the time of study. The patients answered a self-questionnaire on their educational level and profession. The data were compared with those of the general population of the same age and geographic area.

Results: Three hundred and sixty-one patients (286 with Crohn's disease and 75 with ulcerative colitis) filled out and returned the questionnaire. The median [interquartile] age was 15.0 [12.9; 16.3] years at diagnosis and 34.2 [29.6; 39.5] years at the time of the study. Patients were more likely to have a higher education degree than the general population (57% vs. 41%, p < 0.0001). The unemployment rate was significantly lower among study participants than among the general population (9% vs. 15%, p = 0.001). Salaried patients were significantly more likely to be employed in the healthcare sector (14% vs. 9% in the general population; p = 0.005) and in the public sector (34% vs. 22% in the general population; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Our results showed that relative to the general population, patients with paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel diseases have a higher educational level and a higher employment rate, and are more likely to work in the healthcare and public sectors.