P1202Educational Attainment in Young Adults with Pediatric-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Pediatric-onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may interfere with academic performance through school absenteeism, emotional burden, and the need for frequent medical follow-up. Nevertheless, existing literature indicates that most children and adolescents with IBD achieve educational levels comparable to their healthy peers. Disease severity and family context have been proposed as potential determinants of academic outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective study evaluating educational attainment in young adults with a history of pediatric-onset IBD. A structured telephone questionnaire was administered between March and August 2025 to patients born up to 31 December 2002 who had been followed at a tertiary Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit. Descriptive and exploratory analyses were performed. Results Of 198 eligible patients, 130 young adults completed the survey, 55% were male. The median current age was 24 years, and the median age at diagnosis was 14 years. Regarding IBD subtype, 70% had Crohn’s disease, 28% ulcerative colitis, and 2% indeterminate colitis. At the time of assessment, 8% had mild active disease, 6% were in clinical remission, and 86% were in combined clinical and biochemical remission. Sixteen percent had undergone IBD-related surgery. Regarding educational attainment, 37% had completed a bachelor’s degree and 25% had obtained a master’s degree. Concerning employment status, 75% were employed, 16% remained students, 8% were unemployed, and 1% was on medical leave. No significant associations were found between final educational level and IBD subtype (p = 0.69), current disease activity (p = 0.67), family history of IBD (p = 0.55), or age at diagnosis (p = 0.47). In contrast, a significant association was observed between caregiver educational level and the participants’ academic achievement (p 0.01). Conclusion In line with existing evidence, pediatric-onset IBD does not appear to limit academic achievement in young adults. The observed impact of parental education highlights the importance of socio-educational context and family support. Further prospective studies are warranted to identify determinants of educational attainment and school absenteeism in pediatric IBD, particularly in subgroups with refractory disease. Conflict of interest: Dr. Amorim, Rita: No conflict of interest De Sousa, Beatriz: No conflict of interest Lopes de Magalhães, Teresa: No conflict of interest Moreira, Tatiana: No conflict of interest Pinto Pais, Isabel: No conflict of interest Espinheira, Maria do Céu: No conflict of interest Trindade, Eunice Claudia Moreno: None