title: Never underestimate inflammatory bowel disease: High prevalence rates and confirmation of high incidence rates in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regional variations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rates have been observed. Limited epidemiological data are available from Australasia. IBD prevalence rates have never been assessed in an Australian population-based setting. In addition, there are few historical IBD incidence data to allow assessment of rate changes. The aims were to calculate Australia's first population-based IBD prevalence rates, to reassess local IBD incidence rates, and to establish a population-based inception cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, prospective population-based epidemiological study was performed to assess IBD prevalence and incidence rates from July 2010 to June 2011 in a geographically defined Australian population (Barwon, Victoria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1011 prevalent IBD cases identified, representing a crude point prevalence rate of 344.6 per 100,000 on June 30, 2011. Crohn's disease was the most common prevalent subtype. Seventy-one incident cases of IBD were identified, with a crude incidence rate of 24.2 per 100,000. Crohn's disease was again more common. Local incidence rates have not changed between 2007 and the present study. All incident cases were successfully incorporated into an inception cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of IBD in our local region is high. Demographic similarities allow these results to be applied to the broader Australian community. We propose that the number of existing and new cases each year in Australia has been previously underestimated. These revised figures will be important when planning the provision of health resources for these patients in the future and when assessing need for research funding priorities.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Corrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Studd
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beswick
authors.affiliation: Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hair
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jarrad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Wiliam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: IBD; epidemiology; incidence; prevalence