780 Dietary Practices and Beliefs of Patients With Older Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Study From the United Kingdom

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In an aging population, 25-35% of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are over 60 years old. A third of these are diagnosed with IBD at or over the age of 60, so-called “older-onset” IBD [1]. Despite epidemiological associations implicating diet in IBD aetiology, virtually no studies exist exploring perceptions and beliefs of patients with older-onset IBD. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study is being conducted in the UK. Two-hundred patients with older-onset IBD will complete a questionnaire regarding demographics and dietary practices. Here we provide an interim analysis of the data collected from the first 29 patients. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 73.5 years, 55% were male, 93% Caucasian, 69% had ulcerative colitis and 31% had Crohn's disease. Mean disease duration was 6.2 years. 24% of patients felt diet was an initiating factor in their IBD and this was based on their own experience (86%) or advice from a gastroenterologist (57%) or dietician (43%) in the majority of cases. Just under a quarter of patients believed that diet could trigger a relapse of their disease with 43% of these identifying both milk products and raw fruit and vegetables as the most common causes. 60% of patients avoided certain foods to prevent relapse. The most commonly avoided foods were spicy (82%) and fatty foods (65%), carbonated drinks (53%), red meat (47%) and alcohol (41%). Over 50% reported being able to find specific advice regarding dietary recommendations in IBD, and three-quarters of these used the internet to obtain this advice. A fifth of patients avoided eating the same menu as their family at least some of the time to prevent relapse of their IBD and 30% of patients avoided eating out. 17% had tried a specific exclusionary diet to help manage their disease. CONCLUSION: Despite a low proportion implicating diet in the initiation of IBD or its relapse, a significant number continue to restrict their diet. This, along with co-existing frailty, comorbidities and polypharmacy, may put this group of patients at increased risk of nutritional deficiency and its associated complications, underpinning the need for understanding the dietary practices and perceptions in this vulnerable group. A larger dataset will be presented at conference proceedings.