IBD Can’t Wait: The Need for Timely Treatment 

The Burden of IBD 

The global burden of IBD is substantial – and growing. As of 2017, around 6.8 million people worldwide were living with IBD, with more than 375,000 new diagnoses each year. The prevalence of IBD is now estimated to be around 10 million people. 

As patient numbers rise, so does the economic strain. When care is delayed, patients are more prone to hospitalizations and delayed surgeries – two of the biggest drivers of direct healthcare costs in IBD management. These costs often outweigh those of early, preventative treatments. Delayed intervention not only increases complications but also reduces quality of life and work productivity, amplifying indirect costs.   

Prioritizing Timely Care  

Patients living with IBD experience symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea or fatigue which are often deemed minor. But the longer patients wait to seek medical advice, the more damage the disease can cause.  

Health care providers emphasize the importance of the “window of opportunity,” which refers to the early phase after symptoms appear, often within the first two years. Timely diagnosis and targeted treatment during this window can slow down or even halt irreversible complications such as fibrosis or structural bowel damage.   

From Reactive to Proactive 

Shifting the paradigm from reactive care to proactive management is essential. Making this shift requires health care systems to:  

• Invest in early diagnostics, such as biomarker testing, that can enable earlier detection and personalized treatment. 

• Ensure equitable access to treatment through streamlined reimbursement pathways for biologic therapies.  

• Empower patients with education on recognizing symptoms before serious intervention is required. 

• Foster multidisciplinary, patient-centered care by encouraging collaboration among gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists and nurse specialists.  

The price of delayed IBD treatment is far greater than the cost of early intervention. If health care systems prioritize timely, high-quality care, they can not only save money but also transform outcomes and preserve patients’ health and quality of life.  

To learn more, read GAfPA’s Statement of Consensus: Removing Barriers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in the Asia-Pacific Region.