National Digestive Diseases
Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)

A service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States

On this page:

All Digestive Diseases

Prevalence: 60 to 70 million people affected by all digestive diseases1
Ambulatory care visits: 104.7 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 13.5 million (2004)2
Mortality: 236,164 deaths (2004)2
Diagnostic and therapeutic inpatient procedures: 5.5 million—12 percent of all inpatient procedures (2006)3
Ambulatory surgical procedures: 20 million—31 percent of all ambulatory procedures (2006)4
Costs: $141.8 billion (2004)2
$97.8 billion direct medical costs (2004)2
$44 billion indirect costs (e.g., disability and mortality) (2004)2

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Specific Diseases


Abdominal Wall Hernia
Ambulatory care visits: 4.7 million (2004)2
Surgical procedures (inguinal hernia only): 600,000 (2004)5
Hospitalizations: 372,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 1,663 deaths (2007)6
Prescriptions: 3.7 million (2004)2

Chronic Constipation
Prevalence: 63 million people (2000)7
Ambulatory care visits: 6.3 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 700,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 137 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 5.3 million (2004)2

Diverticular Disease
Prevalence: 2.2 million people (1998)8
Ambulatory care visits: 3.2 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 815,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 3,372 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 2.8 million (2004)2

Gallstones
Prevalence: 20 million people (2004)9
Ambulatory care visits: 1.8 million (2004)2
Surgical procedures: 700,000 cholecystectomies (2004)9
Hospitalizations: 622,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 1,092 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 1.65 million (2004)2

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Prevalence: Reflux symptoms at least weekly: 20 percent of the population (2004)10
Ambulatory care visits: 18.3 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 3.1 million (2004)2
Mortality: 1,150 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 64.6 million (2004)2

Gastrointestinal Infections
Prevalence: Nonfoodborne gastroenteritis: 135 million people (1998)8
Foodborne illness: 76 million people (1998)8
Ambulatory care visits: 2.3 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 450,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 4,396 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 938,000 (2004)2

Hemorrhoids
Prevalence: 75 percent of people older than 45 (2006)11
Ambulatory care visits: 3.2 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 306,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 14 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 2 million (2004)2

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Prevalence: 359,000 people (1998)8
Ambulatory care visits: 1.1 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 141,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 622 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 1.8 million (2004)2

Ulcerative Colitis
Prevalence: 619,000 people (1998)8
Ambulatory care visits: 716,000 (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 82,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 311 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 2.1 million (2004)2

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Prevalence: 15.3 million (1998)8
Ambulatory care visits: 3 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 212,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 20 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 5.9 million (2004)2

Liver Disease
Prevalence: 2.6 million people (2007)12
Ambulatory care visits: 2.3 million (2004)2
Liver transplants: 6,319 (2008)13
Hospitalizations: 759,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 36,090 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 731,000 (2004)2

Pancreatitis
Prevalence: 1.1 million people (1998)8
Incidence: Acute: 17 cases per 100,000 people (2003)14
Chronic: 8.2 cases per 100,000 people (1981)15
Ambulatory care visits: 881,000 (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 454,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 3,480 deaths (2004)2
Prescriptions: 766,000 (2004)2

Peptic Ulcer Disease
Prevalence: 14.5 million people (2007)12
Ambulatory care visits: 1.4 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 489,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 3,000 deaths (2007)6
Prescriptions: 5 million (2004)2

Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Prevalence of chronic infection: none (2007)16
Incidence of acute clinical cases: 2,979 new cases (2007)16
Ambulatory care visits: infrequent (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 10,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 58 deaths (2004)2

Hepatitis B
Prevalence of chronic infection: 800,000–1.4 million people (2007)16
Incidence of acute clinical cases: 4,519 new cases (2007)16
Ambulatory care visits: 729,000 (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 69,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 645 deaths (2004)2

Hepatitis C
Prevalence of chronic infection: 2.7–3.9 million people (2007)16
Incidence of acute clinical cases: 849 new cases (2007)16
Ambulatory care visits: 2.7 million (2004)2
Hospitalizations: 419,000 (2004)2
Mortality: 4,595 deaths (2004)2

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Sources

  1. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Opportunities and Challenges in Digestive Diseases Research: Recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health; 2009. NIH Publication 08–6514.

  2. Everhart JE, ed. The Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2008. NIH Publication 09–6433.

  3. DeFrances CJ, Lucas CA, Buie VC, Golosinskiy A. 2006 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008(5).

  4. Cherry DK, Hing E, Woodwell DA, Rechsteiner EA. National Ambulatory Medical Survey: 2006 Summary. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008:(3).

  5. Malangoni MA, Gagliardi RJ. Hernias. In: Townsend C, Beachamp R, Evers B, Matoox K, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 17th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders Publishers; 2004: 1199–1218.

  6. Xu J, Kochanek KD, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2009:58(1).

  7. Higgins PD, Johanson JF. Epidemiology of constipation in North America: a systematic review. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2004;99:750–759.

  8. Sandler RS, Everhart JE, Donowitz M, et al. The burden of selected digestive diseases in the United States. Gastroenterology. 2002;122:1500–1511.

  9. Shaffer EA. Epidemiology of gallbladder stone disease. Best Practices and Research Clinical Gastroenterology. 2006;20(6):981–196.

  10. El-Serag HB, Petersen NJ, Carter J, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux among different racial groups in the United States. Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1692–1699.

  11. Baker H. Hemorrhoids. In: Longe JL, ed. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale; 2006: 1766–1769.

  12. Pleis JR, Lucas JW. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2007. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2009:10(240).

  13. Transplants in the U.S. by recipient gender. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network website. http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/rptData.asp. Updated September 11, 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009.

  14. Brown A, Young B, Morton J, Behrns K, Shaheen N. Are health related outcomes in acute pancreatitis improving? An analysis of national trends in the U.S. from 1997 to 2003. Journal of the Pancreas. 2008;9(4):408–414.

  15. Gupta V, Toskes P. Diagnosis and management of chronic pancreatitis. Postgraduate Medicine Journal. 2005;81:491–497.

  16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance for Acute Viral Hepatitis—United States, 2007. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2009:58(SS–3).
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Glossary

Data for digestive diseases as a group and for specific diseases are provided in various categories. For some diseases, data do not exist in all categories. Following are definitions used for the categories in this fact sheet:

Ambulatory care visits: The number of visits made annually to office-based physicians, hospital outpatient clinics, and emergency departments for a specific disease.

Hospitalizations: The number of hospitalizations annually for a specific disease.

Incidence: The number of new cases annually of a specific disease.

Mortality: The number of deaths resulting annually from a specific disease listed as the underlying or primary cause.

Prescriptions: The number of prescriptions written annually for medications to treat a specific disease.

Prevalence: The number of people affected annually by a specific disease or diseases.

Procedures: The number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed annually in a hospital or outpatient setting for a specific disease.

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Hope through Research

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ (NIDDK’s) Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition supports basic and clinical research into digestive diseases.

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. For information about current studies, visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

You may also find additional information about this topic by visiting MedlinePlus at www.medlineplus.gov.

This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included the most current information available. For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more information.

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Acknowledgments

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.


National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3570
Phone: 1–800–891–5389
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the Clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases.

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.

NIH Publication No. 10–3873
June 2010

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Page last updated May 10, 2012


The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3570
Phone: 1–800–891–5389
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov

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