P023  Lower Income Levels in Puerto Ricans with IBD: A Sociodemographic Characterization of a Hispanic Cohort

P023  Lower Income Levels in Puerto Ricans with IBD: A Sociodemographic Characterization of a Hispanic Cohort

Nieves-Jiménez Humberto1, Peluyera-García Alondra2, Cuevas-Rodríguez Sandra2, Torres Esther1
1 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, United States, 2 University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, United States

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) is rapidly increasing in Hispanics, but there is limited information regarding sociodemographic characteristics of this cohort. Factors such as education, employment status, and income may provide insight as to how the IBD population compares to the general population. In recent years, Puerto Rico has reported an increase in the prevalence of IBD. We aim to describe a Puerto Rican cohort.

METHODS: The study subjects were Puerto Ricans participating in EPILATAM, a multicenter study of IBD in Latin America. After consent, a questionnaire with sociodemographic and medical questions was administered. Variables analyzed were age, sex, IBD diagnosis, education, income, and employment status. Results were compared to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources 2017 statistics regarding these variables. The study was approved by the IRB.

RESULTS: 160 patients were recruited. The mean age was 39 years. 87 were men (54%) and 73 were women (46%). 115 patients had CD (72%) and 45 had UC (28%). 44% reported being employed, 25% were unemployed, 17% were students, and 14% were retired. 5% of patients had only elementary school education, 7% achieved middle school, 31% completed high school, and 57% obtained a degree beyond high school. For the 70 employed patients, 67% had a degree beyond high school. For the 40 unemployed patients, only 47% had obtained education beyond high school. In terms of yearly income (USD) for 145 patients, excluding the 15 full-time students, 19% of patients reported having no income, 23% earned between $1,000 and $10,000, 29% had an income between $10,001 and $20,000, 16% earned between $20,001 and $30,000, and 13% reported having an income of more than $30,001. The average annual income was $17,000. 51% of patients reported having lost work time due to IBD.

CONCLUSION(S): The results of the study suggest that the Puerto Rican IBD cohort is a diverse one in terms of level of education and income. Compared to the general Puerto Rican population for 2017, employed and unemployed IBD patients have an almost identical level of education, showing no remarkable difference. Unemployed patients with a degree beyond high school account for 47%, roughly equal to the general population at 46%, and unemployed patients with high school or a lower level constitute 53%, compared to 54% of the general population. Employed patients with a degree beyond high school represent 67%, relative to 64% of the general population, and employed patients with high school or a lower level amount to 33%, compared to 36% of the general population. Yearly income in IBD patients is varied. Nonetheless, there is an evident difference amongst the patients and the general population. The average yearly income of the general population was $27,532, as opposed to $17,000 for the IBD cohort. The noticeable difference of $10,532, coupled with a relatively high number of patients that reported having work time lost due to IBD, may signify a disparity in the labor setting, compared to the general population.