COURSE AND SOCIAL-CONSEQUENCES OF CROHNS- DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

Course and social consequences of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colit is. Patients: We studied the course and particularly the social conseq uences of Crohn's disease (n = 107) and ulcerative colitis extending b eyond the sigmoid colon (n = 22) during the first 6.1 respectively 6.3 years after onset. Results: Under common treatment, the disease activ ity decreased and the body mass index increased significantly in the m ajority of patients, but about 30% of them reached no continuous remis sion. The professional training was delayed in 23% of patients with Cr ohn's disease and 9% of those with ulcerative colitis. However, by obj ective datas and in the patients' own opinion the effect of both disea ses on the professional qualification and occupational status which we re reached in the end was small. The percentage of partly occupied pat ients and those without work compared to that of healthy ones. 11% of patients with Crohn's disease and 14% with ulcerative colitis had to r etire prematurely. The patients' family status and number of their chi ldren matched largely that of healthy men and women of same age.