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| Authors | E Cachia R Aakeroy N Calleja |
| Abstract | Background: The primary aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Malta in a well defined population during a 13 year study period. Method: Diagnostic criteria for Crohns disease, Ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis were defined. A diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease was obtained from the histology reports of biopsies taken during colonoscopies performed at St Lukes Hospital between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2005. No histology results were obtained from the private sector as this represents a negligible number. The date of diagnosis was defined as the date of first colonoscopy revealing signs of IBD. Results: The standardised rates have been standardised using the direct method on the European Standard Population. The mean incidence of Ulcerative Colitis in males was 8.16 per 100,000 per year and for females was 7.59 per 100,000 per year whilst that for Crohns disease in males was 0.96 per 100,000 per year and for females 1.622 per 100,000 per year. Using linear regression, in Ulcerative colitis, there is an almost significant (p=0.069) increasing trend with time but no difference by gender (p=0.591). On the other hand, in Crohns disease, there is no significant trend with time (p=0.555) but a significant difference by gender (p=0.078). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first Maltese study in which the incidence of IBD has been recorded. In Malta the incidence of Ulcerative Colitis is similar to the overall incidence of other European countries whilst the incidence of Crohns Disease is lower; in fact the incidence of Crohns Disease rates amongst the lowest in Europe similar to other Southern European Countries. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
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| Key words | crohns disease, incidence, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease |