TY - JOUR
T1 - ECCO consensus on management of inflammatory bowel disease in low- and middle-income countries
AU - El-Hussuna, Alaa
AU - Hauer, Almuthe Christina
AU - Karakan, Tarkan
AU - Pittet, Valerie
AU - Yanai, Henit
AU - Devi, Jalpa
AU - Yamamoto-Furusho, Jesus K.
AU - Sima, Ali Reza
AU - Desalegn, Hailemichael
AU - Sultan, Mutaz Idrees
AU - Sharma, Vishal
AU - Shehab, Hany
AU - Mrabti, Lamya
AU - Queiroz, Natalia
AU - Jena, Anuraag
AU - Darma, Andy
AU - Davidson, Karin
AU - Avellaneda, Nicolas
AU - Elhadi, Muhammed
AU - Roslani, April
AU - Wickramasinghe, Dakshitha
AU - Cajucom, Carlo Angelo
AU - Sebastian, Shaji
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved.
PY - 2026/1/1
Y1 - 2026/1/1
N2 - Background The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have increased significantly in low- and middle-income countries [LMICs] in recent decades. Managing IBD in these settings presents substantial challenges. This consensus aims to describe the epidemiology of IBD in LMICs and to highlight the key challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. Method The consensus-defining strategy followed the previous European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] consensus guidelines [available at www.ecco-ibd.eu]. The authors reviewed the available evidence and formulated statements accordingly. Provisional ECCO statements and supporting text were drafted based on a comprehensive literature review and further refined through two voting rounds, which included external reviewers and national representatives from ECCO's 36 member countries. The final ECCO statements, representing a consensus of at least 80% agreement among participants, were approved during an online meeting. Consensus statements should be interpreted in context with their accompanying commentary rather than in isolation and should not be used solely to guide patient management. The supporting text was finalized under the guidance of each working group leader [VP, HY, TK, AH] and subsequently integrated by the consensus leader [AE]. Results Data on IBD epidemiology in LMICs remain limited. Public and healthcare professional awareness and timely access to early diagnostic modalities, advanced medical and surgical therapies, and specialist multidisciplinary care are key gaps in IBD care in LMICs. The complexity and chronic nature of IBD, along with the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach, pose significant challenges to adopting a holistic management strategy in LMICs. Conclusion There is a critical need for further studies to assess the specific needs of LMICs. Such research will help guide resource allocation and improve IBD management in these settings.
AB - Background The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have increased significantly in low- and middle-income countries [LMICs] in recent decades. Managing IBD in these settings presents substantial challenges. This consensus aims to describe the epidemiology of IBD in LMICs and to highlight the key challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. Method The consensus-defining strategy followed the previous European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] consensus guidelines [available at www.ecco-ibd.eu]. The authors reviewed the available evidence and formulated statements accordingly. Provisional ECCO statements and supporting text were drafted based on a comprehensive literature review and further refined through two voting rounds, which included external reviewers and national representatives from ECCO's 36 member countries. The final ECCO statements, representing a consensus of at least 80% agreement among participants, were approved during an online meeting. Consensus statements should be interpreted in context with their accompanying commentary rather than in isolation and should not be used solely to guide patient management. The supporting text was finalized under the guidance of each working group leader [VP, HY, TK, AH] and subsequently integrated by the consensus leader [AE]. Results Data on IBD epidemiology in LMICs remain limited. Public and healthcare professional awareness and timely access to early diagnostic modalities, advanced medical and surgical therapies, and specialist multidisciplinary care are key gaps in IBD care in LMICs. The complexity and chronic nature of IBD, along with the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach, pose significant challenges to adopting a holistic management strategy in LMICs. Conclusion There is a critical need for further studies to assess the specific needs of LMICs. Such research will help guide resource allocation and improve IBD management in these settings.
KW - Crohn's disease
KW - IBD
KW - LMICs
KW - diagnosis
KW - inflammatory bowel disease
KW - low- and middle-income settings
KW - treatment
KW - ulcerative colitis
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027168155
U2 - 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf125
DO - 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf125
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C2 - 40651004
AN - SCOPUS:105027168155
SN - 1873-9946
VL - 20
JO - Journal of Crohn's and Colitis
JF - Journal of Crohn's and Colitis
IS - 1
M1 - jjaf125
ER -