The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in north Tees health district

Abstract

The experience with inflammatory bowel disease in a stable, defined population in northeast England is described. In this population, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease was higher than expected. In particular, a high incidence of colorectal and anal Crohn's disease was found. The literature is reviewed in order to identify some of the factors responsible for this unusual prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the study population. No explanation for our unexpected findings can be advanced. Dans une population stable du Nord-Est de l'Angleterre, nous avons observé une fréquence anormalement élevée de maladies inflammatoires de l'intestin, en particulier de Crohn colorectal et anal. Nous avons recherché, dans la littérature, les facteurs qui pouvaient expliquer cette incidence élevée. Aucune explication satisfaisante n'a été trouvée.