Incidence of ulcerative colitis in Central Greece: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of ulcerative colitis UC in the prefecture of Trikala, Central Greece.


METHODS
A prospective and population based epidemiological study of UC from 1990 to the end of 1994 was conducted. Trikala is a semirural prefecture of Central Greece with a population of 138 946 (census 1991). Three gastroenterologists (one hospital based, two private doctors) of the prefecture participated in this study.


RESULTS
During the study period, 66 new histologically verified cases of UC were recorded. The mean annual incidence of the disease in 1990-1994 was 11.2 per 10(5) inhabitants (95%CI: 8.7-14.3). There was no difference between men and women (annual incidence: 10.5 and 12.0 per 10(5) inhabitants respectively), either among urban, semirural or rural populations (annual incidence: 11.7, 17.1 and 9.9 per 10(5) inhabitants respectively). The majority (56%) of the patients never smoked and a quarter were ex-smokers. About a half of all cases had proctitis.


CONCLUSIONS
UC is common in Central Greece and its incidence is similar to that in North-Western European countries.
Ladas
Spiros-D
SD
23 Sisini Street, 11528 Athens, Greece. sdladas@hol.gr
Mallas
Elias
E
Giorgiotis
Konstantinos
K
Karamanolis
Georgios
G
Trigonis
Dimitrios
D
Markadas
Apostolos
A
Sipsa
Vana
V
Raptis
Sotirios-A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data