Inflammatory Bowel Disease in South Limburg (the Netherlands) 1991-2002: Incidence, diagnostic delay, and seasonal variations in onset of symptoms

Background and aims: Increasing incidence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has been suggested. Recent data on population based incidence rates within Europe are however scarce. Primary aim was to investigate prospectively the incidence of IBD within a well-defined geographical and administrative area of the Netherlands, the South Limburg IBD registry. Secondary aims were to study the duration of symptoms before diagnosis (lag time) and seasonal influences on the incidence of IBD. Methods: The incidence was examined using standardized registration of all newly diagnosed IBD patients, between... Mehr ...