Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38934627›Full record

ArticleInflammatory bowel diseases2025

IBD Is Like a Tree: Reflections From Older Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Alison Rusher, Elizabeth Araka, Ashwin N Ananthakrishnan, Christine Ritchie, Bharati Kochar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Inflammatory bowel diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alison RusherDivision of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Elizabeth ArakaDivision of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Ashwin N AnanthakrishnanDivision of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Christine RitchieThe Mongan Institute, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4881-9416
Bharati KocharDivision of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8862-1236

Funding

Frailty in Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesR03AG074059 · NIA · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI KOCHAR, BHARATI · 2021 to 2022
$336k
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Career Development R03AG074059NIA NIH HHS R03 AG074059
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the growing proportion of older adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), their lived experience is not well understood. IBD literature is generally focused on younger adults, and few studies are qualitative. Older adults may report well-being differently than younger adults, so it is important that we learn about their goals and priorities with a chronic disease.

objectiveThe study sought to understand the lived experience of older adults with IBD and explore their perceptions and priorities.

methodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with patients ≥60 years of age with IBD to evaluate the impact and perception of IBD in the context their overall health and life. We used a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis of our transcripts to identify underlying patterns.

resultsWe achieved thematic saturation after 22 interviews. We produced 4 major themes: (1) having IBD at an older age, (2) financial ramifications of IBD at an older age, (3) expectations for a meaningful life, and (4) unmet needs. Prominent subthemes included (1) ageism, loss of autonomy, and barriers to healthcare; (2) retirement and insurance issues; (3) redefining quality of life and gratitude; and (4) social isolation and navigating daily life with IBD.

conclusionsHaving IBD later in life presents unique challenges. Physicians treating older patients should consider age-sensitive communication, susceptibility to social isolation, and practices for healthy aging in the context of IBD. Patient priorities for further investigation include more representation in the media and educational material tailored for older adults with IBD.

Indexed as

Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesQuality of LifeAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSocial IsolationagingCrohn’s diseaseinterviewsqualitative researchulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID38934627
PMCPMC13031000

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.