The Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Ulcerative Colitis in a Northeast Brazilian Population.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of UC in Bahia, a Brazilian state, and to identify the variables associated with extensive colitis, steroid therapy, immunosuppression, and colectomy.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study UC patients were interviewed, and additional information was collected from the medical records. Descriptive statistics and multivariate Poisson regression analysis were used.


RESULTS
This study included 267 individuals, the mean age of whom was 39.4 years at diagnosis. There was a predominance of females and left-side colitis. Extensive colitis was positively associated with male gender, diarrhea, weight loss, and a younger age at diagnosis. In contrast, active smoking and a family history of IBD were negatively associated with extensive colitis. Positive associations were observed between steroid therapy and diarrhea, weight loss, urban patients, extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), and hospitalization. Younger age and weight loss at diagnosis, a family history of IBD, extensive colitis, EIMs, hospitalization, and steroid therapy were all positively associated with immunosuppression. In contrast, Caucasian individuals, smokers, patients with rectal bleeding, and rural patients areas were all observed to have a decreased likelihood of immunosuppression.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results corroborate the association between higher prevalence of extensive colitis and younger age at diagnosis. An association between steroid therapy and clinical presentation at diagnosis was observed. The observation that white individuals and rural patients use less immunosuppressive drugs highlights the need to study the influence of environmental and genetic factors on the behavior of UC in this population.
Postgraduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, 5 Andar, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil ; Gastroenterology Department, Hospital da Bahia, Avenida Professor Magalhães Neto 1541, Pituba, 41820-011 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Bruno César
BC
da Silva
Postgraduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, 5 Andar, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil ; Gastroenterology and Hepatology Discipline, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, 5° Andar, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Andre Castro
AC
Lyra
Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Avenida Sete de Setembro, s/n, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Carlos Maurício Cardeal
CM
Mendes
Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Rua Silveira Martins, 3386 - Cabula, 41150-100 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Camila Paula Oliveira
CP
Ribeiro
Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Rua Silveira Martins, 3386 - Cabula, 41150-100 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Sonyara Rauedys Oliveira
SR
Lisboa
Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Rua Silveira Martins, 3386 - Cabula, 41150-100 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Mariana Tinoco Lordello
MT
de Souza
Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Rua Silveira Martins, 3386 - Cabula, 41150-100 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Renata Cavalcanti
RC
Portela
Postgraduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, 5 Andar, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil ; Gastroenterology and Hepatology Discipline, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, 5° Andar, Canela, 40110-060 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Genoile Oliveira
GO
Santana
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014505:Urban Population; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids