A Population-Based Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Florence over 15 Years (1978-92)

Background: In the group of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are considered to be more frequent in Western countries and in areas with a high socioeconomic development but relatively infrequent in southern Europe. Sporadic reports have indicated a lower incidence and a milder course of the disease in Mediterranean countries. Although conclusive data on this point are still lacking, recent reports suggest an increase in both incidence and prevalence rates. Methods: The incidence of UC and CD during the period January 1978 to December 1992 and their prevalence on 31 December 1992 were estimated in the 15-year-old population of the metropolitan area of Florence. Clinical, demographic, and follow-up information was collected for all identified IBD patients. Results: A total of 796 residents (345 females and 454 males) were newly diagnosed as having IBD during the study period. Of these 593 had UC and 203 CD. The age-standardized incidence rates, calculated for...