Press & Awareness
What is IBD?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) comprises a group of chronic conditions that cause inflammation in the lining of the digestive tract and affects over 2.2 million people in Europe (five million worldwide). Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are the most common forms of IBD. Some patients have features of both of these diseases and are given a diagnosis of indeterminate colitis.
IBD has been linked to a westernised environment and lifestyle, with its incidence increasing dramatically over the past 50 years in developed countries. The highest prevalence of disease is seen in populations in North America and Northern Europe; however, a slow and steady increase in prevalence is now being described in the developing world as well, making IBD a global disease.
Press releases
ECCO Press release, February 3, 2016: 
ECCO'17: Launch ECCO-EFCCA Patient Guideline Translations
ECCO Press release, January 21, 2015: ECCO'15: New science, novel therapy and quality of care for IBD127.89 KB
Public awareness campaign
More than 3 million people in the European Union are affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a chronic condition associated with cumulative damage and disability. Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis – the two main forms of IBD – are among the least known immune-mediated diseases despite the associated physical, psychological and socioeconomic burdens increasingly affecting young people and children.
In the course of the Annual Congress of ECCO, ECCO has organised three press conferences and public awareness campaigns to date in order to raise public awareness of IBD, to break the shame of people suffering and to help them overcome the barrier of indifference. ECCO aims to improve and optimise standards of care for all patients with IBD.
| Campaign name | ECCO Congress | Destination | Press attending | Patients attending | Countries represented |
|
ECCO-EFCCA Patient Guidelines |
11th Congress of ECCO | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | 118 | TBC | |
| Perspectives on IBD Quality of Care 2014 Photo gallery Press kit |
9th Congress of ECCO | Copenhagen, Denmark | 61 | 47 | 35 |
| Join the fight against IBD 2013 Photo gallery Press kit |
8th Congress of ECCO | Vienna, Austria | 61 | 52 | 32 |
| Join the fight against IBD 2012Press kit |
7th Congress of ECCO | Barcelona, Spain | 75 | 65 | 30 |