title: Low colectomy rate five years after diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Results from a prospective population-based cohort in Sweden (ICURE) diagnosed during 2005-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The medical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) has seen a change towards a more active attitude during recent years, including both the use of more traditional drugs as well as new biological substances. In this epidemiological study we have evaluated the results of modern treatment of UC in a population-based cohort of patients including all age groups, with regard to relapse rate, colectomy and IBD-associated mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with UC in the Uppsala health care region in the middle of Sweden during 2005-2009 were included in the study. Out of 524 patients, 491 (93%) could be followed for five full years or until death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients (3.9%) had died and two of these deaths could be attributed to UC (one postoperative death and one colonic carcinoma). The following drugs were used by the patients during the study period: 5-ASA (91%), systemic steroids (66%), immunomodulators (IMM), mainly thiopurines (26%) and anti-TNF (11%). During the observation period, 74% experienced at least one relapse and 5.3% were subjected to colectomy. Among patients <17 years at diagnosis, colectomy was performed in two (4.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five years after diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, 5.3% had been subjected to colectomy and two patients (0.38%) had died because of the disease.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Sciences , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rönnblom
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , Mariehamn , Finland , Åland ;
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Mälar Hospital , Eskilstuna , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanghöj
authors.affiliation: d Department of Surgery , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karlbom
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Sciences , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thörn
authors.affiliation: e Department of Internal Medicine , Falu Hospital , Falun , Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sjöberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013256:Steroids; D019804:Mesalamine
keywords: Clinical course; colectomy; epidemiology; ulcerative colitis