[Incidence and clinico-epidemiological aspects of ulcerative colitis in the area of the Hospital Costa del Sol].
BACKGROUND
The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease, and of ulcerative colitis in particular, varies widely according to geographical area and has been reported to have increased in the last few years, although some of the differences observed may be due to the methodology employed.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of ulcerative colitis in our area and to compare it with that described in other areas of Spain and Europe, as well as to describe certain clinico-epidemiological aspects of this disease.


METHODS
A descriptive, prospective, population-based study was performed from 2000-2001 in patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the catchment area of the Hospital Costa del Sol, with a population of 210,384 inhabitants. The crude incidence rate was adjusted by the direct method, using the European standard population (EU-25, 2000) as the reference population; 95% confidence intervals were calculated.


RESULTS
Forty-three patients (23 men [53.5%] and 20 women [46.5%], with a mean age of 35.23 years [SD=15.42]) were included. Thirty-three percent were residents of the Hospital Costa del Sol's catchment area and were included in the calculation of incidence. The crude incidence was 7.84 and the incidence adjusted by age and sex to the European population was 7.26 per 100,000 inhabitants/year.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of ulcerative colitis in the area of the Hospital Costa del Sol is higher than that found in other studies performed in the autonomous community of Andalusia as well as that observed in some studies performed in the north of the Peninsula.
Rivera Irigoín
Robin
R
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, Spain. robinrivera_i@hotmail.com
de Sola Earle
Carlos
C
Ubiña Aznar
Esther
E
Perea-Milla
Emilio
E
Fernández Pérez
Francisco
F
Navarro Jarabo
José María
JM
García Fernández
Gregorio
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain