A population-based study on the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Oviedo (Northern Spain) Incidencia de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) en población general en el área de Oviedo

Objective: to assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Oviedo (Northern Spain), and to describe the clinical features of new patients. Patients and methods: a prospective population-based study was made at the Health Area IV, Principality of Asturias (Oviedo, 312,324 inhabitants). All new diagnosed patients with inflammatory bowel disease were registered over a 2-year period. Results: a total of 85 patients were included, 47 of these with ulcerative colitis (UC), 37 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 1 with undetermined colitis. The overall adjusted incidence rate of UC and CD per 10(5) inhabitants between 15-64 years was 9.1 (95% CI: 5-13.1) and 7.5 (95% CI: 3.8-11.2), respectively. The global male/female ratio was 0.9, without significant differences between both diseases. CD patients were younger than those with UC (33 ± 15 years vs 45 ± 20 years; p < 0.05). Mostly, CD patients were diagnosed at an age younger than 35 years (65%), while UC patients were diagnosed at an age between 25 and 64 years (81%). Disease extension in UC was proctitis in 11%, left-side colitis in 53% and extensive colitis in 36%. With respect to CD, the ileo-colonic form predominated (49%), followed by the ileal (40%) and colonic (11%) forms; an inflammatory, stenotic and fistulous pattern was seen in 54, 22 and 24% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: in our area, the incidence of CD is similar to that in other Northern European countries, while UC has a lower incidence. CD mainly affects young people, while UC predominates in middle-aged patients. At diagnosis, UC is predominantly localized, the ileo-colonic form and an inflammatory pattern being most frequent in CD patients.Objetivo: conocer la incidencia de enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en el área de Oviedo y describir las características clínicas de los nuevos pacientes. Pacientes y métodos: estudio prospectivo poblacional en el Área Sanitaria IV del Principado de Asturias (Oviedo, 312.324 habitantes). Fueron registrados todos los pacientes nuevos diagnosticados de enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en un periodo de 2 años consecutivos. Resultados: se incluyeron un total de 85 pacientes, 47 con colitis ulcerosa (CU), 37 con enfermedad de Crohn (EC) y 1 con colitis indeterminada (CI). La tasa de incidencia ajustada por 10(5) habitantes entre 15 y 64 años, de CU y EC, fue de 9,1 para CU (IC95%: 5-13,1) y 7,5 para la EC (IC95%: 3,8-11,2). La proporción hombre/mujer fue de 0,9, sin diferencias significativas entre ambas enfermedades. Los pacientes con EC eran más jóvenes que los que tenían CU (33 ± 15 años vs 45 ± 20 años; p