The Trends of the Incidence Rates, Short-term Outcome of Treatment and Relapse Rates of Ulcerative Colitis

Kim, Ji Won; Kim, Chan Gyoo; Kim, Hyeon Dae; Kim, Byeong Gwan; Chang, Dong Kyung; Kim, Joo Sung; Lee, Dong Ho; Jung, Hyun Chae; Song, In Sung

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Korea, there are few studies about the incidence rates and clinical features of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the late 1990s. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence rates, short-term outcome of medical treatment and relapse rates of UC between before and after 1993. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 265 UC patients registered in the Seoul National University Hospital between January 1993 and July 2001. RESULTS: The incidence rates of UC from 1993 to 2001 were relatively steady status, and the average annual incidence rate was 1.6%. There was proctitis in 28.2% and extensive colitis in 31.5%, mild disease in 50.4% and severe disease in 21.8%. Those results were similar to the distribution of UC patients until 1992. The symptomatic remission rates were 75.4%, 75.0%, and 55.1% in order of proctitis, left colitis and extensive colitis, and 80.6%, 53.8%, and 57.1% in mild, moderate and severe disease. The cumulative relapse and operation rates were 24.7% and 3.8% in 1 year, respectively, while 57.3% and 16.1% in 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be a steady state in the incidence rates of UC since 1993, and the clinical features, short-term outcome of medical treatment of UC since 1993 were similar to those of UC until 1992.