Epidemiological features and clinical variants of inflammatory bowel diseases in St. Petersburg in the setting of outpatient practice

Epidemiological features and clinical variants of inflammatory bowel diseases in St. Petersburg in conditions of outpatient practice are considered. It was established that among patients suffering from ulcerative colitis in the Vyborg and Frunze regions, women predominate in a ratio of 1:2. At the same time, more than 50% of cases of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease come from the age of 20–49 years. The vast majority of patients examined with ulcerative colitis experienced a moderate attack. In more than half of cases, left-sided localization was noted with endoscopic activity of 2–3 points on the Schroeder scale, rectal lesion was observed in 22% of cases, total colitis was detected in only 14%. In general, the incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis in the Vyborg and Frunze regions is higher than Crohn’s disease. However, more extensive and lengthy studies of the problem are needed, but there are some difficulties associated with the lack of a unified registration base for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases. Given that the incidence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease is higher among women and more than 50% of patients are of the most able-bodied age (20–49 years), inflammatory bowel disease is a group of highly relevant and socially significant diseases. Lower figures for the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases compared with those of developed countries indicate insufficient detection, diagnostic and clinical features of these diseases, as well as the need to optimize specialized medical care in places of residence of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases. Nevertheless, currently in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region a fairly effective system of early detection and dynamic observation of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis has been created, which includes the activities of therapists and gastroenterologists of polyclinics, endoscopists and specialists of centers for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases of academic and university clinics.