Prognosis and duration of disabling effects

Some people have mild symptoms and exacerbations resolve quickly with medication.

Up to 10% have a prolonged remission with minimal effects on long term health.

However 75% of cases have recurrent episodes of varying severity lasting over many years. About one eighth have progressive disease without remission.

Ultimately 2% are considered to have very severe disease with debilitating pain, weight loss, poor general health and development of complications. They often fail to respond to any of the standard drug therapies.

At the present time no medical or surgical treatment is considered to be curative.

Overall the excess mortality due to active disease is approximately double that of the general population.

Crohn’s disease is recognised to predispose to cancers of the small and large intestines.

In cases where there is severe unremitting disease with weight loss, poor general health and complications there is unlikely to be any improvement in the Care and Mobility needs.

All information must be taken into account when considering the duration of disabling effects and the duration of disabling effects must be based on the particular circumstances of the individual claimant.

Amended April 2008