Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.06.1982, Qupperneq 58

45
INELAMMATOKY BOWEL DISEASE IN IŒLAND. INCIDENCE AND PRE-
VAIENCE. Sigurdur Bjomsson, Haukur Valdimarsson, Department
of Medicine, Beykjavik City Hospital.
This study descrihes the incidenœ and prevalence of
ulcerative proctocolitis and Crohn's disease in Iceland over a
30 year period, 1950-1979. Ihirty three patients with C.D.
were diagnosed, 22 itien and 11 women, M/F ratio 2:1. In 43%
only the small botæl was involved, 15% had ileocolic involve-
ment and 39% large bowel involvement only. The most frequent
age was 50-60 and 20-30 years. Ihe average annual incidence
was stable during the first two decades, 0.4 and 0.45, but
doubled during the last decade, to 0.9 per 100.000. Ihe
average total prevalence rose from 3 in 1959 to 10 at the
end of 1979 per 100.000. Ihree hundred and sixteen patients
with U.C. were diagnosed, 175 men and 141 women, M/F ratio of
1.24, changing from 0.6 the first decade to 1.5 the last
decade. Ihe most frequent age in both sexes vere 31-40 and
21-30 years. Ihe disease was classified into four stages
according to extensicn at diagnosis, proctitis, proctosigmoid-
itis, distal colitis and total colitis, the most frequent
being proctosigmoiditis, the next most frequent proctitis.
Ihere were more men in all stages except total colitis, vhere
there were more wcmen. Ihe average annual incidence of the
disease was 2.8 the first decade, 4.7 the second and 7.4 per
100.000 the last decade. Ihe average annual incidence of
proctitis during the same period was 0.6 the first decade,
1.4 the second and 2.7 per 100.000 the last decade. Ihe
prevalence of the disease rose from 8.4 in 1950 to 122 per
100.000 in 1979.
It is concluded, that the incidence of C.D. in Iceland is
low, but there is a definite rise of incidence during the last
decade. Ihe incidence of U.C. has shown a steady rise during
the study period, especially during the last decade. Ihis
increase can largely be ascribed to more frequent diagnosis of
less extensive disease, especially amongst men.