Crohn's disease in one mixed-race population in Brazil

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 13; no. 33; pp. 4489 - 4492
• Main Authors: Santana, Genoile Oliveira, Lyra, Luiz Guilherme Costa, Santana, Tamara Celi Almeida, Dos Reis, Lidiane Bianca, Guedes, Jorge Carvalho, Toralles, Maria Betania, Lyra, André Castro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil%Genetic Unit, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil 07-09-2007; Gastrohepatology Unit, Hospital San Rafael, Bahia,Brazil%Gastrohepatology Unit,Federal University of Bahia, Brazil; Gastrohepatology Unit, Hospital San Rafael, Bahia,Brazil%Department of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil%Gastrohepatology Unit,Federal University of Bahia, Brazil; Department of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil; Gastrohepatology Unit,Federal University of Bahia, Brazil; Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Crohn Disease - diagnosis; Crohn Disease - epidemiology; Crohn Disease - ethnology; Crohn Disease - therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Male; Population Groups; Rapid Communication; Brazil; Inflammatory bowel disease; Brazil; Racial group; Crohn's disease; Race
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i33.4489
• EISSN: 2219-2840
• ISSN: 1007-9327

To evaluate the classification and severity of Crohn's disease in different racial groups.
Patients with Crohn's disease from the outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Prof. Edgard Santos were enrolled in the study. This hospital is a reference centre for inflammatory bowel disease. Race was determined using self-identification. The Vienna's classification was applied for all subjects. The severity of Crohn's disease was determined according to the number of surgical procedures, hospital admissions in the last year and treatment with steroids and immunosuppressors. Statistical analysis was calculated using t test for means, chi2 or F for proportions. A P value < 0.05 was considered to be significant.
Sixty-five patients were enrolled. Non-white patients were more frequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease in the age less than 40 years than white patients. The behaviour of disease was similar in both groups with a high frequency of the penetrating form. There was a tendency for non-white patients to have a greater frequency of hospital admissions in the last year compared to white subjects. Non-whites also had a higher rate of colonic and upper gastrointestinal involvement, and were also more frequently on treatment with immunossupressors than white patients although this difference was not statistically significant.
Non-white patients with Crohn's disease had an earlier diagnosis and appeared to have had a more severe disease presentation than white patients.