Epidemiological Profile of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) in the Northern Region

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with increasing incidence worldwide. While traditionally more prevalent in Western countries, recent years have seen a notable rise in IBD cases across developing nations, including North African countries such as Morocco. In the northern region of Morocco, data on the epidemiological profile of IBD remain scarce. This study aims to characterize the demographic, clinical, and geographic distribution of IBD in this part of the country. Through the analysis of patient records and hospital data, we seek to identify patterns related to age, sex, disease type, diagnostic delay, and environmental or lifestyle factors potentially associated with disease onset and progression. Our findings provide the first comprehensive overview of IBD epidemiology in northern Morocco, highlighting local specificities and contributing to a better understanding of the disease in a Moroccan context. This work also underscores the need for improved data collection systems and targeted public health strategies to enhance early detection and disease management at the national level.