title: Clinical and Sociodemographic Aspects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Brazil, there are few epidemiological studies available about the demographic and clinical aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to identify epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with IBD treated at the University Hospital (HU) of the Sergipe Federal University (UFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in HU/UFS from October 2011 to January 2014. The sample consisted of 87 patients with IBD, who registered in the coloproctology clinic. We applied a questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 87 patients, 40 (46%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 47 (54%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Women had a higher prevalence of IBD. Data obtained were significant (P < 0.05) in the variables: age, origin and level of education. CD patients were younger (< 25 years old), had higher prevalence of smoking habits and were associated with urban origin, conjunctivitis, palpable mass, appendectomy and intestinal complications. UC was more prevalent in older individuals (> 25 years old), with rural origin, bloody diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Location and initial behavior of CD were ileum-colic (L3), inflammatory behavior and penetrating form of the disease. There is higher prevalence of proctitis and mild and severe forms of the UC among women. Osteoarticular and systemic manifestations predominated in both diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBD affected more women than men. The age, origin and level of education can interfere with early diagnosis. Demographic and clinical aspects were similar to the literature. Data differ in the time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, smoking habit, appendectomy and severity of UC for age and gender.
authors: Department of Medicine, Tiradentes University, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil.
authors: Leda Maria
authors: LM
authors: Delmondes
authors: Department of Medicine, Tiradentes University, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo Oliveira
authors: MO
authors: Nunes
authors: Department of Medicine, Tiradentes University, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil.
authors: Arthur Rangel
authors: AR
authors: Azevedo
authors: Department of Medicine, Tiradentes University, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil.
authors: Murilo Matos de Santana
authors: MM
authors: Oliveira
authors: Department of Medicine, Tiradentes University, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil.
authors: Lorena Eugenia Rosa
authors: LE
authors: Coelho
authors: Coloproctology Department, Sergipe Federal University, Sao Cristovao 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Juvenal da Rocha
authors: JD
authors: Torres-Neto
keywords: Crohn’s disease; Epidemiology; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Ulcerative colitis