The Incidence of Lymphocytic Colitis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Export Objective: Lymphocytic colitis (LC) is a subtype of microscopic colitis characterized by chronic, non-bloody diarrhea and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes without structural abnormalities. LC often affects younger individuals but remains underdiagnosed due to symptom overlap with other gastrointestinal conditions. This study aimed to determine the incidence of LC among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), assess its association with other gastrointestinal diseases, and explore its prevalence in younger populations. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary care medical center. Colonoscopic biopsies were performed on patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, and histopathological evaluations confirmed diagnoses. Patients were categorized into three groups: malignancies, LC, and other IBDs. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between age and disease categories. Results: LC was more prevalent in younger individuals, with 48.7% of cases in patients aged ≤30 years, compared to 24.4% in older patients (P=0.008). Malignancies were predominantly found in older patients, with a mean age of 59.8 years (P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed a negative association between age and LC (OR=0.977, P=0.008), highlighting its higher prevalence in younger populations. Conclusions: LC shows a clear age-dependent pattern, being more prevalent in younger patients compared to malignancies or other IBDs. These findings emphasize the need for targeted diagnostic protocols, including colonoscopic biopsy, to improve early detection and management in younger populations.