INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE IN ARAGON - IN CREASING PREVALENCE

Object: To study the frequency of Inflammatory Dowel Disease in our ar ea. Material and methods: A retrospective, hospital-based analysis ide ntifying potential cases, with a posterior study of case records follo wing a predefined protocol, according to international standards in di agnosis. Patients: Ad patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Crohn's D isesase, Ulcerative Colitis, or Indeterminate Colitis established betw een 1975 and 1992 at our Hospital. Results: 222 cases (Ulcerative Coli tis: 109; Crohn's Disease 93; Indeterminate Colitis 20) were identifie d and a clear trend for an increased incidence was found for the three diagnoses; with annual incidence below 1 for them all in the 1975-197 7 period versus 3.66; 3.33; and 1 respectively in the 1990-1992 period . This trend was evident both for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disea se. Conclusions: The global frequency of inflammatory Dowel Disease ha s increased in the last years in Zaragoza (Spain), and its incidence i n now very similar to that reported in Northern European countries. Po ssible factors associated with this phenomenon should be pursued in fu ture studies.