Inflammatory bowel disease in Estonia: a prospective epidemiologic study 1993-1998

Abstract

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) in Estonia in 1993-1998 was investigated prospectively. The mean annual incidence of UC was 1.7 per 100000, and that of CD 1.4 per 100000. This population-based study showed much lower incidence of UC and CD than those reported for western and northern Europe. The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) have been studied by many doctors and every year new data[1,2] and reviews[3] published. A retrospective study of 1973-1992 revealed that UC (mean annual incidence 1.5 per 100000) and CD (mean annual incidence 0.27 per 100000) were not so common in Estonia as it is in other countries[4]. Estonia is a small country in northern Europe close to Scandinavian countries with the highest incidence rates of UC and CD[3]. And, therefore the aim of the present study was to prospectively estimate the incidence of UC and CD for 1993-1998.