title: Aspects of the epidemiology of Crohn's disease in the Jewish population in Beer Sheva, Israel.
abstract: The epidemiology of Crohn's disease in Jews in the Beer Sheva district of Israel was studied. The mean annual incidence per 10(5) population was 1.1 for the period 1961-80 and 1.8 for the period 1976-80. The crude prevalence rate on 31 December 1980 was 14.0 per 10(5) population. The unadjusted prevalence rates by place of birth were: Israeli-born 6.9, European/American-born 24.6 and Asian/African-born 19.4 per 10(5) population. The age-adjusted prevalence rates were: Israeli-born 9.7, European/American-born 15.8 and Asian/African-born 12.5 per 10(5) population. The study has demonstrated: 1) that Crohn's disease has a low prevalence in Jews in this district; 2) that Crohn's disease is not as uncommon in Asian/African-born Jews as was previously thought; 3) that the low crude rate of Crohn's disease in Israeli-born Jews in this district is partially accounted for by the age distribution of the population; and 4) that environmental rather than genetic factors appear to determine the incidence of Crohn's disease in this district.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa; D014481:United States