Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Risk factors for intestinal ischaemia among patients registered in a UK primary care database: a nested case-control
C Huerta1, E Rivero, M A Montoro
1Centro Español de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica, Almirante 28, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Intestinal ischaemia, including ischaemic colitis and acute mesenteric ischaemia, causes significant morbidity and mortality. Few population-based studies have estimated incidence and potential risk factors for this disease.
Aims:
To estimate the incidence of intestinal ischaemia and identify the associated risk factors in cohorts: (i) patients with irritable bowel syndrome and/or chronic constipation (IBS/CC/both), (ii) individuals free of these conditions.
Methods:
Population-based case-control analysis nested in a cohort of patients with first ever recorded diagnosis of IBS/CC/both and a cohort free of these conditions from general population using the General Practice Research Database.
Results:
Of 78 cases of intestinal ischaemia, 71 were from general population, seven from the IBS/CC/both cohort. Incidence rate of intestinal ischaemia in IBS/CC/both patients vs. general population was 4.49:1.09 per 100,000 person-years; age- and gender-adjusted incidence rate ratio (95% CI) was 2.7 (1.2-5.9). Inflammatory bowel disease and heart failure showed an association with ischaemic colitis [OR (95% CI): 4.2 (0.5-38.4) and 5.6 (2.2-14.1)], but none with acute mesenteric ischaemia. Diabetes and prior cardiovascular surgery were associated with higher risk of acute mesenteric ischaemia, but showed no association with ischaemic colitis.
Conclusions:
Results suggest that different risk factors are associated with acute mesenteric ischaemia and ischaemic colitis. However, due to small number of patients, associations should be carefully interpreted.
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