Rapid changes in epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease, that is Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has increased over two to three generations in high-income countries, but in only one generation (the past 25 years) in much of the newly industrialised and “developing” world. Speaking to physicians in many parts of the developing world, it is clear that inflammatory bowel disease has become a major health concern and an area of increasing health-care need.