Incidence and prevalence of inflammatory Bowel disease in China: a regional population-based study from 2020 to 2022

BACKGROUND: The global burden of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is on the rise. Studies regarding the incidence of IBD in China remain notably limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the epidemiology of IBD in Jiangsu Province. METHODS: We used data from Jiangsu IBD Big Data Center based on National Healthcare Big Data (East) Center to identify IBD cases during the period 2020-2022. Incidence rates, prevalence rates, as well as both crude and age-standardized incidence rates, were computed. RESULTS: A total of 26,446 IBD cases were identified between 2020 and 2022, including 12,062 newly diagnosed IBD cases in 2022. The prevalence of IBD was 31.21 (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.83-31.58) per 100,000 population on 31 December 2022. The incidence in 2022 was 14.23 (95% CI, 13.98-14.49) per 100,000 population. The incidence rates of UC and CD between males and females were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: The rising trend in both the incidence and prevalence of IBD in China aligns with prior observations from other regions. These data underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance patient management and optimize resource allocation.