title: Epidemiological aspects of inflammatory bowel disease in a north Italian population: a 4-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics at presentation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a defined area of north Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4-year prospective population-based epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An area in Lombardia defined by the National Health Service scheme with about 294,000 inhabitants, two referral hospitals and 259 general practitioners (GPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects presenting to a GP with symptoms compatible with IBD underwent a diagnostic work-up at one of the referral hospitals. Those with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) or indeterminate colitis diagnosed according to a defined protocol were included, as were residents of the area with IBD diagnosed elsewhere. Rigid case ascertainment methods were used. Patients were followed for one year; 125 patients were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient ascertainment rate was constant over the 4 years; UC was diagnosed in 82 patients, CD in 40, and indeterminate colitis in three. The mean annual incidence of IBD for the whole period was 10.6/10(5) inhabitants (95% confidence limits, 7.2-15.1), 7.0/10(5) for UC (4.3-10.7) and 3.4/10(5) (1.6-6.3) for CD. The mean interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was under 6 months. The clinical characteristics of our patients were similar to those of north European and American series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of IBD was higher than previously observed in Italy but was still lower than in some north European countries and in the USA. Our data could be used as a basis for future longitudinal studies and in international comparative investigations.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze Mediche, Università di Milano, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ranzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lupinacci
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dal Lago
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lisciandrano
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors