Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common cause of chronic gastrointestinal disease in the developed world, which has a bimodal age distribution, with 10-30% of the affected population older than 60 years. Elderly patients with UC will be seen more frequently with the aging of the population and increasing incidence of UC. The management of UC in the elderly population is more complex due to comorbidities and polypharmacy. This review article provides a brief up-to-date comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of UC, with a focus on the special caring for elderly patients. Clinical challenges in the diagnosis of elderly patients with UC and the adverse effects or benefits of treatment options have been described.