title: Epidemiological characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in Bologna, Italy--incidence and risk factors.
abstract: Recently, in Bologna, an inflammatory bowel disease incidence of 7.7/10(5)/year has been calculated, about one third of that reported in Northern Europe, confirming the existence of a 'North-South gradient'. A first peak of incidence was observed at 20-29 years of age and a second peak at 60-69 years of age for ulcerative colitis (UC) alone. A prevalence of UC males, mainly after the 7th decade, and of Crohn's disease (CD) females in the first peak was found. A greater frequency of ex-smokers in UC, with a relative risk (RR) significantly higher in males for all age groups (RR = 6.1; p < 0.01) and of smokers in CD with a RR significantly higher in 20- to 29-year-old females (RR = 11.6; p < 0.05) was observed. A different pattern for the two diseases exists: male ex-smokers and young female smokers are at risk of developing UC and CD, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Medicina Interna, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tragnone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lanfranchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology