Epidemiologic profile of inflammatory bowel disease in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of two main types Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The epidemiology of IBD patients has not been comprehensively studied in EMRO countries; therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to study the epidemiology of this disease in these countries. METHODS: We searched four international databases, namely Scopus, Web of Knowledge (ISI), Medline/PubMed, and ProQuest, from inception up to the end of May 2023. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline was used to carry out this systematic review and meta-analysis investigation. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist, the quality of the selected papers was assessed. RESULTS: Based on the results of this study, the incidence of UC in EMRO countries was 2.65 per 100,000 (95% CI 1.39-3.90), and the incidence of CD was 1.16 per 100,000 (95% CI 0.73-1.59). The most commonly involved intestinal segment in CD was the terminal ileum (44.7%, 95% CI 34.7-55.2), followed by the ileum (29.8%, 95% CI 22.2-38.6), and colon (18.7%, 95% CI 10.8-30.4). However, in UC patients, extensive colitis was the most common finding (32.3%, 95% CI 26.4-38.8), followed by proctosigmoiditis (27.9%, 95% CI 21.1-35.8), left-sided colitis (27.4%, 95% CI 22.7-32.7), and proctitis (22.6%, 95% CI 17.5-28.5). CONCLUSION: As a result, we were able to establish the traits of IBD patients in EMRO nations. UC patients had a higher incidence than CD patients. The most common regions of involvement in CD and UC patients, respectively, were the colon and pancolitis. Compared to UC patients, CD patients had a higher history of appendectomy.