What is the average life span for a patient with severe Crohn's disease?

Answer 1

Most of us survive Crohns disease. The mortality rate is rather low in North America.

Because many patients are in extremely poor condition before diagnosis, the survival rate after the first diagnosis is better than 95 percent after the first year and 80 percent after twelve years. It should be noted that most deaths occur from complications post surgery and other diseases due to weakened immune systems.

Answer 2

Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person's lifetime. Predicting when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return is not possible. Only about 5 to 10% of patients will die of complications due to Crohn's, usually from massive infection.

Answer 3

There are a number of treatments available that can help patients live a long, productive life. Crohn's Disease is not normally fatal, however complications from the disease could be fatal if not seen to. Today, although Crohn's is not curable, it is managed with a variety of effective drug treatments along with diet and lifestyle changes

Answer 4

Most patients diagnosed and under the care of a doctor lead relatively comfortable but changed lifestyles. Severe flare ups of crohns disease can be life threatening but usually can be brought under control either through pharmacological treatments or surgery.

Answer 5

Although a doctor would need to be consulted first on any dignosis or treatment and outcome for any condition, I have heard that most people with Crohn's Disease have bouts with the condition that causes ulcers of the colon/intestine with painful diarrhea and ulcers around the ankles and even some cases have reported ulcers on other parts of the body and the immune system becomes greatly compromised by this time then after various meds or treatment, rest and even sometimes in convalescent homes they most of the time can go back into remission and this cycle goes back and forth for the duration of the disease, but they usually have it after onset for the rest of their life. It most usually starts in early adulthood but can start in childhood or later in life They over time can develop complications which can and do sometimes cause death. One complication I know of resulting from Chronic Crohn's Disease is cancer of the colon. I should add that people who get it early in life, say, early adulthood unless they take the utmost care of themselves can die in their 30's or 40's. I've seen it happen because I was a Physical Therapist for many years and did contract therapy in nursing homes and had very young, very ill patients with this disease and some died and some went home. Many had made several trips back and forth to nursing homes most of their lives. They become unable to take care of themselves and needed around the clock care. I also had a friend that died of the disease at the age of 44.

Another view

If you look at my bio you will note that I have had Crohn's Disease for 45 years.

Not just a few flare ups now and then , but severe, constant, painful and on going.

Your body will not collapse from Crohn's Disease unless you allow it to.

Crohn's Disease IS manageable, it is life changing, devastating when first diagnosed and very hard to live with when you are an active otherwise healthy individual.

How you deal with Crohn's is the key to living with Crohn's.

It used to be much worse. Crohn's used to be thought of as a psychological disorder brought on by the patient themselves and treated with anti depressants. The patient left to deal with the pain and the embarrassment associated with the symptoms. Most of us back then went on with life, we had to. We are so much stronger for it.

Today, although Crohn's is not curable, it is managed with a variety of effective drug treatments along with diet and lifestyle changes.

Known to be an autoimmune disease, Crohn's is now diagnosed relatively easily and quickly brought under control by a variety of new and innovative medicines. Progress on treatment methods is ongoing and ever changing.

Depression is natural during a flare up and quality of life can quickly decline when combined with all the other symptoms you must endure. This too can be addressed by your physician.

The human body is a remarkable machine, the mind even more impressive. Use both to their full potential and neither will collapse when faced with a challenge like Crohn's disease or any other chronic ailment. A diagnosis of Crohns is not a death sentence. The majority of Crohns disease patients live long and productive lives. Advances in treatment are ongoing and many patients now have fewer and fewer flares. Crohns can go into remission and not bother a patient after the first diagnosis.

See related questions for more information.

Answer 6

The life expectancy of Crohn's patients is fairly average to the life expectancy of the rest of the population. It may be slightly lowered due to the stress the illness causes and the amount of extensive surgeries. However, many patients are able to live a long and fulfilling life.

Answer 7

General life table analysis shows that the life expectancy for men diagnosed with Crohn's disease in developed countries is 77.3 years and 79.0 years for women. Overall life expectancy is not statistically significantly different from the life expectancy of the general population in developed countries. (population median worldwide is 71 for males and 77 for females).

Patients diagnosed under 20 years have a median age at death of 64 years, whilst those patients diagnosed over the age of 20 years do not experience reduced life expectancy.

Answer 8

It depends on the severity of your disease, your treatment and medical care.

Crohns disease by itself is rarely fatal, it is usually the complications associated with the disease which become life threatening. With proper medical care a Crohns patient can live a long and productive life.

Answer 9

In response to you question, I was diagnosed in 1970 and had symptoms years previously. I am alive and kicking in 2009 and intent to stay that way for years to come.