An international study of mortality from inflammatory bowel disease

The mortality rates from inflammatory bowel disease were compared for the period 1965-1975 in 12 different countries. Mortality was greatest in north-western Europe and least in the southern hemisphere in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In seven of the countries, mortality from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were recorded separately and, during the period, mortality from Crohn's disease increased in all but one country, in contrast to ulcerative colitis where a fall occurred in each country. In those countries where one of the disease was common, the other was usually also common. The findings suggest that Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may have some common aetiological factors and the country of residence is more important than race.