A recent study highlights significant disparities in the care of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Black, Asian, and Hispanic Americans with IBD face numerous challenges in accessing advanced treatments compared to their white counterparts. These disparities are particularly pronounced in the use of advanced therapies such as biologics and JAK inhibitors.
Working-age Black Americans with IBD are more likely to use steroids, visit the emergency room, and be hospitalized than white Americans. However, they are less likely to receive advanced treatments. Dr. Andrés Hurtado-Lorenzo, a senior vice president at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, notes that socioeconomic barriers and structural racism significantly contribute to these inequities. Adjustments for household income and dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility reduced the disparities, underscoring the role of socioeconomic factors.
The study also found that older Black adults are nearly 50 percent more likely to seek IBD treatment in the emergency room than their white peers. Hispanic children, while more frequently using healthcare services, do not receive advanced therapies at the same rate as white children. Asian and Hispanic Americans of working age are less likely to receive regular gastroenterological care or prescribed medications.
These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address the socioeconomic and structural barriers that contribute to health disparities in IBD care. Ensuring equitable access to advanced treatments is crucial for improving health outcomes for minority communities.
See: “People of Color Face Big Hurdles in IBD Care” (April 3, 2025)