Inflammatory Bowel Disease Burden in Six Different Dietary Regions and Worldwide

In recent years, diet has gained increasing attention as a modifiable risk factor of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to assess the potential impacts of global dietary changes on IBD prevalence.

Data on IBD from 1999 to 2021 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study for global and region-specific dietary patterns. To quantify temporal patterns and assess trends in age-standardized rates of IBD prevalence, incidence, mortality, and years lived with disability, we computed disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years of life lost over the study period. Joinpoint software was used to analyze the average annual percent change and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. R statistical package (version 4.3.2) was used for statistical analyses and plot illustrations.

The incidence of IBD globally and in six different dietary regions has increased annually from 1999 to 2021. Among these regions, the Mediterranean and African regions had the lowest incidence, whereas regions with a Western diet exhibited a higher incidence. The most common age of onset is between 50 and 69 years, while the highest mortality rate was observed in individuals aged 70 and above. A minimal difference in incidence was observed between males and females; however, the mortality rate, prevalence, and DALYs were higher in males than in females both globally and across the six dietary regions.

We elucidated how various dietary habits contribute to the onset and progression of IBD and highlight future research directions in this evolving field.