Inflammatory bowel disease in Bahrain: single-center experience.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Clinical Epidemiology
• Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) epidemiology in the Middle East

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is increasingly diagnosed globally.
• A rising trend in IBD incidence and prevalence has been noted in Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia.
• Understanding local epidemiological patterns is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and prevalence of IBD in Bahrain.
• To analyze trends in IBD diagnoses at Salmaniya Medical Complex from 1984 to 2014.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with IBD subtypes (UC, CD, IC).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 187 patients diagnosed with UC, CD, or indeterminate colitis (IC) between 1984 and 2014.
• Data collection included patient demographics, clinical presentation, disease extent, treatment, and outcomes.
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess trends and correlations with clinical factors.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in IBD incidence and prevalence was observed over the study period.
• The overall IBD prevalence was calculated at 26.25 per 10⁵ cases.
• Factors such as steroid use, age, and family history were found to correlate with disease complications and surgical intervention needs in CD and UC.

Conclusions:

• IBD is no longer considered rare in Bahrain, with continuously increasing rates of UC and CD.
• The findings highlight the need for enhanced public awareness regarding IBD symptoms and management.
• Improved diagnostic and treatment strategies are essential to address the growing burden of IBD in the region.