An Epidemiological Study of Ulcerative Colitis in Copenhagen County

Abstract

During the years 1961-1967, 310 patients with ulcerative colitis (including isolated proctitis) from Copenhagen County and Gentofte Municipality were examined and treated in hospital, the great majority at the Ulcerative Colitis Clinic of the County. At the end of the period, 253 of the patients were still alive in the County, which gives a prevalence of 44.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in the area.

Considering the 231 patients only, in whom ulcerative colitis was diagnosed for the first time 1961-1966, the incidence of the disease averaged 7.3 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The incidence did not alter significantly during the period.

By April 1967, 19 of the ulcerative colitis patients had died, 14 from the disease and its complications, five from other causes. The mortality averaged 0.6 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. In a following publication this problem will be treated using a different technique.

Key-words:

• Colon
• ulcerative colitis
• epidemiology