Researchers at the University of Calgary (Canada) conducted a systematic review of all population-based studies in MEDLINE and EMBASE that described the incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) in different regions of the world in a time-sensitive context. In all, the researchers evaluated data from 167 studies from Europe (1930-2008), 52 studies from Asia and the Middle East (1950-2008), and 27 studies from North America (1920-2004). Maps were used to present worldwide differences in the incidence and prevalence of IBDs, and time trends were determined using join-point regression.

The results showed that the highest reported prevalence values for IBD were in Europe and North America. The highest annual incidence of UC was 24.3 per 100,000 person-years in Europe, 6.3 per 100,000 person-years in Asia and the Middle East, and 19.2 per 100,000 person-years in North America. The highest annual incidence of CD was 12.7 per 100,000 person-years in Europe, 5.0 person-years in Asia and the Middle East, and 20.2 per 100,000 person-years in North America. In time-trend analyses, 75% of CD studies and 60% of UC studies had an increasing incidence of statistical significance. The study was published in the January 2012 issue of Gastroenterology.

“Insight into the worldwide epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease is important for the identification of geographic patterns and time trends,” said lead author Gilaad Kaplan, MD, MPH, of the department of community health sciences. “Our findings will help researchers estimate the global public health burden of inflammatory bowel disease so that appropriate health-care resources are allocated, and targeted research is conducted in specific geographic regions.”

UC and CD are the two illnesses that comprise the majority of IBDs. The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis, which occurs in the inner lining of the colon or rectum, are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and rectal bleeding. Patients suffering from Crohn's disease, an inflammation and ulceration process that occurs in the deep layers of the intestinal wall, experience pain in the abdomen, often in the lower right side, diarrhea, weight loss, and occasionally bleeding.

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