Abstract:
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is being increasingly
diagnosed in Asia. However there are few epidemiological data from the region.
METHODS: To determine prevalence and clinical characteristics of IBD, a
hospital-based survey was performed in the Colombo and Gampaha districts
(combined population 4.5 million) in Sri Lanka. Patients with established ulcerative
colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), who were permanent residents of these
adjoining districts, were recruited from hospital registries and out-patient clinics.
Clinical information was obtained from medical records and patient interviews.
RESULTS: There were 295 cases of IBD (UC = 240, CD = 55), of which 34 (UC =
30, CD = 4) were newly diagnosed during the study year. The prevalence rate for
UC was 5.3/100,000 (95% CI 5.0-5.6/100,000), and CD was 1.2/100,000 (95% CI
1.0-1.4/100,000). The incidence rates were 0.69/100,000 (95% CI 0.44-
0.94/100,000) for UC and 0.09/100,000 (95% CI 0.002-0.18/100,000) for CD.
Female:male ratios were 1.5 for UC and 1.0 for CD. Mean age at diagnosis was
(males and females) 36.6 and 38.1 y for UC and 33.4 and 36.2y for CD. Among
UC patients, 51.1% had proctitis and at presentation 58.4% had mild disease.
80% of CD patients had only large bowel involvement. Few patients had
undergone surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IBD in this population was low compared to
Western populations, but similar to some in Asia. There was a female
preponderance for UC. UC was mainly mild, distal or left-sided, while CD mainly
involved the large bowel.
