Incidence and phenotype at diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Results in Spain of the EpiCom study

Abstract

Introduction: Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing progressively. Few recent epidemiological prospective studies are available in Spain. The Epicom study, a population-based inception cohort of unselected IBD patients developed within the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization, was started in 2010. Vigo is the only Spanish area participating.

Objective: To describe the incidence of IBD in the Vigo area and the phenotypical characteristics at diagnosis and to compare them with previous data available in Spain.

Material and methods: Epidemiological, descriptive, prospective, and population-based study. All incident cases of IBD during 2010 and living in the Vigo area at diagnosis were included. The Copenhagen Diagnostic criteria were used to define cases. Background population at the start of the study was 579,632 inhabitants. Data were prospectively entered in the EpiCom database.

Results: A total of 106 patients were included (57.5% men, median age 39.5 years). Of them 53 were diagnosed of as Crohn's disease (CD), 47 ulcerative colitis (UC) and six IBD unclassified (IBDU). The incidence rate per 100,000 per year for patients aged 15 years or older was 21.4 (10.8 for CD, 9.4 for UC, 1.2 IBDU). Including pediatric population incidence rates were 18.3 (10.3 CD, 8.7 UC, 1.2 IBDU). Median time since onset of symptoms until diagnosis was 2 months.

Conclusions: The incidence rate of IBD in Vigo is the highest compared to former Spanish cohorts, especially in CD patients. Median time since onset of symptoms until diagnosis is relatively short.

Keywords: Colitis ulcerosa; Crohn disease; Enfermedad de Crohn; Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Incidence; Incidencia; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Ulcerative colitis.