The American journal of gastroenterology
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2001
The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and socioeconomic variables.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic diseases associated with considerable morbidity. This morbidity may have an impact on the ability of patients to remain employed, on their marital status, and on their ability to complete a course of higher education. It has long been held that IBD patients are of a higher socioeconomic status and more educated than the general population. Our aim was to determine the relationship between IBD and employment, income, disability, education, and marital status in two population-based data sets based in the province of Manitoba, Canada. ⋯ Individuals with IBD at some time in the course of their illness are more likely not to be working than are those in the general population. Based on employment status and job classification, as well as income and education, IBD patients are not of a higher socioeconomic status as previously reported. IBD patients are at least as likely as the general population to be married.