Population Density and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Population-Based Study in 1

C Ng, GG Kaplan, W Tang, R Banerjee, B Adigopula, FE Underwood, D Tanyingoh, SC Wei, WC Lin, HH Lin, J Li, S Bell, O Niewiadomski, MA Kamm, Z Zeng, M Chen, P Hu, D Ong, CJ Ooi, KL Ling, Y Miao, J Miao, HJ de Silva, M Niriella, S Aniwan, J Limsrivilai, P Pisespongsa, K Wu, H Yang, KK Ng, HH Yu, Y Wang, Q Ouyang, M Abdullah, M Simadibrata, J Gunawan, I Hilmi, KL Goh, Q Cao, H Sheng, A Ong-Go, VH Chong, JYL Ching, JCY Wu, FKL Chan, and JJY Sung

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

Living in an urban environment may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear if this observation is seen globally. A population-based study was conducted to assess the relationship between urbanization and incidence of IBD in the Asia-Pacific region. We found that regions in Asia with a high population density had a higher CD and UC incidence. Coastal areas within China had higher IBD incidence. With increasing urbanization and a shift from rural areas to cities, disease incidence may continue to climb in Asia

Full article: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41395-018-0233-2