EPIDEMIOLOGIC DATA ON CROHNS-DISEASE IN T HE CITY OF COLOGNE

In the period between 1.7.1985 and 30. 6. 1986 283 patients with Crohn 's disease were recorded prospectively in the city of Cologne, which h as a total of 922,552 inhabitants. This corresponds to a prevalence of 30.67 per 100,000 inhabitants (women 35.97, men 24.90). During this o ne-year survey period, 47 new cases of the disease occurred, i.e. the incidence is 5.1 per 100,000 (women 5.8, men 4.3). The highest total i ncidence is in the age group of 20 to 24 years (17.3) and the highest total prevalence is in the group of 25 to 29 years of age (90.0). Ther e is a substantial sex difference with a female/male ratio of 173:110. Only data of patients residing primarily in Cologne were evaluated. F igures are given on the diagnostic latency, the locations, operations, complications and misdiagnoses of Crohn's disease.