The Incidence of Crohn's Disease Is Not Decreasing in Sweden

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Abstract
An epidemiologic study of the incidence of Crohn's disease during the 25-year period 1963-1987 within a geographically well defined area has been performed. The mean annual incidence during the 25 years was 6.1/105 inhabitants. During the first quinquennium the incidence was 4.3/105 inhabitants, but during the next four quinquennia the incidence was very stable around 6.6/105 inhabitants. The point prevalence on 31 December 1987 was 146/105, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.15. An analysis of birth cohorts could not reveal any cohort more prone to develop the disease. Of the 246 incidence cases 5 patients had died of Crohn's disease. The percentage of small-bowel disease only was very stable during the whole study period. The proportion of large-bowel disease decreased only slightly, and combined small- and large-bowel disease increased somewhat towards the end of the study period, probably because of better diagnostic methods.