Key clinical point: Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease have lower life expectancy than did those without the disease, although life expectancy has increased for IBD patients in the past 2 decades.

Major finding: Life expectancy for women and men with IBD increased by 2.9 years and 3.2 years, respectively, between 1996 and 2011.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study of individuals with and without IBD that used demographic and health survey data from databases in Ontario in 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2011.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (Canada). Lead author Dr. Kuenzig received a postdoctoral fellowship award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.