Inflammatory bowel disease in Turkish children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a growing concern in pediatric populations worldwide.
• Understanding the specific demographic and clinical characteristics of IBD in Turkish children is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and outcomes of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Turkey.
• To identify patterns and potential risk factors in a Turkish pediatric IBD cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for 127 children diagnosed with IBD (under 18 years) between 2004 and 2012.
• Data collected from 8 pediatric gastroenterology centers across Turkey.
• Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of IBD before age 18.

Main Results:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) affected 70.9% of patients, Crohn's disease (CD) 22.8%, and IBD unclassified 6.3%.
• The mean age was 11.6 years; males predominated in CD (72.4%) versus UC (42.2%).
• Extra-intestinal manifestations and associated diseases were more frequent in early-onset disease (OR=4.02 and OR=4.1, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric IBD is an increasing clinical entity in Turkey.
• The clinical features of IBD in Turkish children resemble those reported in international cohorts.
• Prospective multicenter studies are recommended to ascertain the true incidence of IBD in Turkish children.