Differences between seven measures of self-reported numbers of clients of female sex workers in southern India: implications for individual- and population-level analysis.

Quantifying sexual activity of sub-populations with high-risk sexual behaviour is important in understanding HIV epidemiology. This study examined inconsistency of seven outcomes measuring self-reported clients per month (CPM) of female sex workers (FSWs) in southern India and implications for individual/population-level analysis. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to compare key social/environmental factors associated with each outcome. A transmission dynamics model was used to assess the impact of differences between outcomes on population-level FSW/client HIV prevalence. Outcomes based on 'clients per last working day' produced lower estimates than those based on 'clients per typical day'. Although the outcomes were strongly correlated, their averages differed by approximately two-fold (range 39.0-79.1 CPM). The CPM measure chosen did not greatly influence standard epidemiological 'risk factor' analysis. Differences across outcomes influenced HIV prevalence predictions. Due to this uncertainty, we recommend basing population-based estimates on the range of outcomes, particularly when assessing the impact of interventions.

Rates and determinants of HIV-attributable mortality among rural female sex workers in Northern Karnataka, India.

Female sex workers (FSWs) have among the highest rates of HIV infection in India. However, little is known about their HIV-specific mortality rates. In total, 1561 FSWs participated in a cohort study in Karnataka. Outcome data (mortality) were available on 1559 women after 15 months of follow-up. To gather details on deaths, verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaires were administered to key informants. Two physicians reviewed the VA reports and assigned underlying causes of death. Forty-seven deaths were reported during the follow-up (overall mortality rate was 2.44 per 100 person-years), with VA data available on 45 women. Thirty-five (75.6%) of these women were known to be HIV-positive, but only 42.5% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Forty deaths were assessed to be HIV-related, for an HIV-attributable mortality rate of 2.11 deaths per 100 person-years. Absence of a current regular partner (incidence rate ratio: 2.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-5.60) and older age (1.06; 1.01-1.11) were associated with increased HIV-attributable mortality. Reported duration in sex work was not related to HIV-attributable mortality. We found a high HIV-related mortality rate among this cohort of FSWs; nearly 10 times that of national mortality rates among women of a similar age group. Older age, but not reported duration in sex work, was associated with increased mortality, and suggests HIV acquisition prior to self-reported initiation into sex work. Despite significant efforts, there remain considerable gaps in HIV prevention near or before entry into sex work, as well as access and uptake of HIV treatment among FSWs.

Concepts and strategies for scaling up focused prevention for sex workers in India.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the concepts, strategies and field results of a project to scale up prevention programmes and services for female sex workers (FSWs) in Karnataka, India. METHODS: A strategy was developed to scale up urban sex worker interventions in 18 districts in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Macro-level coverage objectives were defined by mapping the urban locations where FSWs operate and estimating their population size. Prevention programmes were initiated in the urban locations that contained at least 90% of the estimated urban FSW population in each district. Within each location, a micro-planning process was used by FSW peer educators and outreach workers to design local outreach and service delivery plans. RESULTS: An estimated 48 973 FSWs were distributed across 1551 locations and 6232 spots. Outreach was conducted by 1043 peer educators. Services were provided through 170 drop-in centres, 93 programme-run clinics, 110 outreach clinics and 157 referral clinics. Within the first 3 years of the programme the cumulative number of individual FSWs contacted at least once was >78 000, with monthly contact established with 81% of the in situ population; >45 000 FSWs had visited a clinic and >10 000 visited monthly. Direct and indirect condom distribution by the programme amounted to more than 30 per contacted FSW, which is estimated to meet the condom requirement. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy that involves geographically defined coverage and micro-level outreach planning can rapidly and effectively provide outreach and services to large dispersed FSW populations.

Variations in the population size, distribution and client volume among female sex workers in seven cities of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the size and distribution of female sex worker (FSW) populations and the distribution of client-FSW encounters in seven major cities of Pakistan. METHODS: Mapping of FSWs was done using a two-stage process of identifying and validating locations where FSWs solicit and/or meet clients, estimating the size of the FSW population at each location and describing the type of sex work. A sample survey of FSWs was conducted to collect data on sociodemographic and behavioural data. Survey data on client volume were analysed to assess the distributional inequality of client sexual encounters in each of these cities. The overall distributional inequality in client-sex worker encounters across the entire FSW population within a city was assessed by drawing Lorenz curves and computing the Gini coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 34 480 FSWs (40% street-based, 57.5% home-based and 2% brothel-based) were mapped in the seven cities. Of these, 2869 participated in behavioural and biological surveys. The median age of FSWs surveyed was 26 years with sexual debut at 18 years. The contribution of different types of FSWs to the total client volume differed substantially between cities, with the contribution of home-based FSWs ranging from 32% to 75%. The overall distributional inequality in client volume also varied substantially between cities, with the Gini coefficient ranging from 0.22 (low inequality) to 0.50 (high inequality). CONCLUSIONS: The relative size and distribution of sex workers and the sex worker-client patterns differs considerably in cities of Pakistan. Programmes should be planned and implemented accordingly.

Formal and informal sector health providers in southern India: role in the prevention and care of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.

Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a central role in the provision of prevention and care services for people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. However, the degree of readiness for this role through appropriate training and experience is not clear. In the case of both the urban and rural areas of the state of Karnataka, India, primary and secondary healthcare is provided by practitioners who can be categorised into three major groups: qualified allopathic physicians, qualified non-allopathic doctors (homeopathic and Ayurvedic) and registered medical practitioners. In 2002, the India-Canada Collaborative HIV/AIDS Project conducted a study in an urban area and a rural district of the state of Karnataka, collecting information from 998 care providers regarding attitudes, knowledge and practices related to STI care and HIV/AIDS care in particular. This paper analyses and compares the three different types of HCPs with respect to these parameters and discusses implications for STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs.

The role of collectives in STI and HIV/AIDS prevention among female sex workers in Karnataka, India.

This paper evaluates the role of female sex worker (FSW) collectives in the state of Karnataka, India, regarding their facilitating effect in increasing knowledge and promoting change towards safer sexual behaviour. In 2002 a state-wide survey of FSWs was administered to a stratified sample of 1,512 women. Following the survey, a collectivization index was developed to measure the degree of involvement of FSWs in collective-related activities. The results indicate that a higher degree of collectivization was associated with increased knowledge and higher reported condom use. Reported condom use was higher with commercial clients than with regular partners or husbands among all women and a gradient was observed in most outcome variables between women with low, medium and high collectivization index scores. Collectivization seems to have a positive impact in increasing knowledge and in empowering FSWs in Karnataka to adopt safer sex practices, particularly with commercial clients. While these results are encouraging, they may be confounded by social desirability, selection and other biases. More longitudinal and qualitative studies are required to better understand the nature of sex worker collectives and the benefits that they can provide.

Geographic analysis of diabetes prevalence in an urban area.

The objective of this research is to identify the sociodemographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors associated with the geographic variability of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) prevalence in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. An ecological regression study design was employed for this purpose. The study population included all prevalent cases of DM in 1998 for Winnipeg. Predictor and outcome data were aggregated for analysis using two methods. First, the spatial scan statistic was used to aggregate study data into highly probable diabetes prevalence clusters. Secondly, predictor and outcome data were aggregated to existing administrative health areas. Analysis of variance and spatial and non-spatial linear regression techniques were used to explore the relationship between predictor and outcome variables. The results of the two methods of data aggregation on regression results were compared. Mapping and statistical analysis revealed substantial clustering and small-area variations in the prevalence of DM in the City of Winnipeg. The observed variations were associated with variations in socioeconomic, environmental and lifestyle characteristics of the population. The two methods of data aggregation used in the study generated very similar results in terms of identifying the geographic location of DM clusters and of the population characteristics ecologically correlated to those clusters. High rates of DM prevalence are strongly correlated with indicators of low socioeconomic status, poor environmental quality and poor lifestyles. This analysis further illustrates what a useful tool the spatial scan statistic can be when used in conjunction with ecological regression to explore the etiology of chronic disease.

Therapeutic value of a gastroenterology consultation in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Functional patients comprise the largest group in gastroenterology practice. Pharmacological therapy of irritable bowel syndrome is disappointing. One treatment strategy for irritable bowel syndrome emphasizes the physician's role; the physician is promoted as the therapeutic modality. AIM: To determine the therapeutic value of the contemporary approach to irritable bowel syndrome by examining health care utilization and patient morbidity. METHODS: We performed an observational study over 4 years using an administrative database and morbidity scales. Health care utilization was assessed for 2 years pre- and post-intervention. Patient morbidity was assessed at baseline and 1 and 2 years post-intervention. The participants included 70 irritable bowel syndrome patients referred by primary physicians. A structured consultation was performed, establishing a positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and providing disease conceptualization. RESULTS: Health care utilization for gastrointestinal diagnoses increased in the year prior to the intervention and declined immediately after to baseline; psychiatric and other visits remained unchanged for 4 years. Pain was reduced but other morbidity persisted. CONCLUSIONS: A consultation itself is a therapeutic intervention in irritable bowel syndrome with regard to its impact on societal economic burden. It is associated with a durable decrease in illness-specific health care utilization. It may not address all aspects of irritable bowel syndrome; multiple domains of morbidity demonstrated persistent distress.

Geographical variations in the epidemiology of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Manitoba, Canada.

Feasible epidemiological approaches are required to make a better assessment of the stage of an epidemic and to monitor its transition through various phases. Application of the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient to summarise the inequality in STD incidence rates between jurisdictions in Manitoba, Canada, was found to provide useful insights into the concentration of these epidemics over time and thus their transition through epidemic phases. Further exploration of the statistical properties of these and other indices of inequality and their potential application to STD epidemiology is warranted. New epidemiological tools are also required for better monitoring of the impact of prevention and control activities and to inform the content of these activities.

Populations, pathogens, and epidemic phases: closing the gap between theory and practice in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

The phase specific model for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections (STI) offers new insights into the strategic planning of programmes. The model illustrates the importance of modifying the focus of prevention and control activities to different subpopulations as the epidemic evolves over time. However, the practical application of phase specific approaches will depend on an understanding of the variability and determinants in the trajectory by which STI epidemics progress through epidemic phases. This paper draws on empirical observations from diverse populations to explore the influence of sexual behaviour patterns in populations, the biological characteristics of STI pathogens, and the population-pathogen interactions in relation to epidemic trajectories. In addition, various approaches to the determination of epidemic phase are presented.

Generational differences in the age at diagnosis with Ibd: genetic anticipation, bias, or temporal effects.

OBJECTIVE: Previous cross-sectional research has demonstrated generational differences in age at diagnosis (AAD) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This observation has at times been ascribed to genetic anticipation, but could also be due to biases related to case ascertainment or follow-up or to temporal changes in IBD epidemiology. We aimed to explore this issue using a population-based database. METHODS: In 1995 we used the comprehensive administrative databases in the province of Manitoba, Canada to establish a population-based IBD Research Registry that includes clinical and demographic information for persons. We contacted those subjects within our Research Registry who reported having any family members with IBD and their family members for verification of diagnosis and AAD. Differences in AAD between familial pairs were calculated. In addition, to assess whether duration of follow-up accounted for generational differences in AAD, we computed the mean AAD for subjects with and without family histories of IBD based on age at the time of interview (i.e., < 45 and > or = 45 yr of age). RESULTS: Of the 2445 persons with IBD in the Research Registry, 548 reported positive family histories, and 315 of these (58%) were reached by telephone. There were 169 Crohn's disease and 146 ulcerative colitis subjects with positive family histories. The mean AADs for the parents, aunts/uncles, and grandparents were significantly greater than the mean AADs for the children, nieces/nephews, and grandchildren, respectively. There was a doubling of the mean AAD when comparing the grandparent/grandchild cases with the parent/child or aunt/uncle-niece/nephew cases. No statistically significant difference in anticipation was observed, whether or not the older generation was male or female or had Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The AAD was substantially greater for those interviewed at > or = 45 yr of age for subjects with and without family histories. However, there was no substantial difference in mean AAD between familial and nonfamilial subjects. CONCLUSION: The present study has demonstrated that there is a tendency for children to be younger than their parents at the time of diagnosis of familial IBD, and that this difference in mean AAD is almost doubled for grandparent/grandchild pairs. However, we conclude that these differences are most likely due to a bias based on length of follow-up or recent multigenerational temporal changes in the risk of IBD, or both.

Development of an assay for antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Easy, cheap and specific for Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a serological test to measure antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: An ELISA to the mannan of S cerevisiae that is commercially available was developed. Sera were tested from randomly chosen sera specimens kept frozen at the University of Manitoba Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical and Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Clinical diagnoses were kept blinded until the assay results were finalized. One hundred thirty-six sera were tested, including 51 with Crohn's disease, 32 with ulcerative colitis, one with indeterminate colitis and 16 other control subjects. Thirty-six samples were duplicates from patients already studied but were either run on separate days or drawn on different days. RESULTS: Using a cutoff of 15 binding units as a positive result, Crohn's disease was found to have a sensitivity of 53% but a specificity of 100% compared with ulcerative colitis. Compared with all other diagnoses (including ulcerative colitis), Crohn's disease had a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 96%. For patients with Crohn's disease only, those who were anti-S cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) positive (n=27) were significantly more likely to have proximal gastrointestinal disease and significantly less likely to have colonic or inflammatory type disease than those who were ASCA negative (n=24). The direct cost of this assay was $6.00 per positive test, and the total charge was set at $38.15. CONCLUSIONS: A reasonably inexpensive, easy and reproducible assay to assess for antibodies to S cerevisiae has been developed. Using a cutoff for positivity of 15 binding units, this test had a specificity of 100% for ruling out Crohn's disease and a lower (60%) sensitivity compared with ulcerative colitis. This test could identify a specific phenotype of patients with Crohn's disease as being more likely to have small bowel Crohn's disease and less likely to have colonic (isolated) or inflammatory disease, as opposed to fibrostenotic disease or penetrating disease. The test proved reliable when assaying samples drawn or assayed on different days.

Small-area variations and sociodemographic correlates for the incidence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The objectives of this study were to describe variations in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) within the Canadian province of Manitoba and to analyze sociodemographic factors associated with these variations. The authors used the Manitoba Health insurance databases to measure incidence rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis for each of 52 postal areas in Manitoba, in 1987-1996. The sociodemographic characteristics of the postal areas were based on data from the 1996 Canadian census. The overall incidence rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were identical-15.6 per 100,000. Both diseases showed substantial geographic variation, with incidence rates differing significantly from the provincial average in 15 postal areas for Crohn's disease and in 13 postal areas for ulcerative colitis. There was a significant geographic correlation in the incidence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (r = 0.49, p < 0.001). The incidence of IBD was higher in urban areas (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.45). Aboriginal Canadians had significantly lower rates of both Crohn's disease (IRR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.22) and ulcerative colitis (IRR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.79). A higher incidence of IBD was ecologically associated with a higher average family income, a lower proportion of immigrant and Aboriginal Canadian populations, and a smaller average family size.

The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and socioeconomic variables.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic diseases associated with considerable morbidity. This morbidity may have an impact on the ability of patients to remain employed, on their marital status, and on their ability to complete a course of higher education. It has long been held that IBD patients are of a higher socioeconomic status and more educated than the general population. Our aim was to determine the relationship between IBD and employment, income, disability, education, and marital status in two population-based data sets based in the province of Manitoba, Canada. METHODS: Two studies are reported here. In study A, we surveyed persons with IBD, using the population-based University of Manitoba IBD Database, created in 1995-1996. We compared these IBD patients to the general population with respect to employment, education, and marital status using data from the 1996 National Population Health Survey. IBD patients were queried as to their socioeconomic status as of the time of diagnosis and also at the time of the survey (1995-1996). In study B, we used a database that linked health care and census variables to determine differences in employment, income, occupation, and marital status among individuals who met the administrative definition of IBD (created in forming the University of Manitoba IBD Database, based on ICD-9-CM codes 555 for Crohn's disease and 556 for ulcerative colitis) compared with the rest of working-age population. RESULTS: In study A we found that, compared with the general population, patients with IBD were more likely to be unemployed. Crohn's disease appeared to affect employment more than ulcerative colitis. IBD patients, however, had a low rate of reporting themselves as disabled (1.3%). Among those married when diagnosed with IBD, approximately 10% of men and up to 20% of women were no longer married 5 yr later. More patients with IBD were married in 1995 compared with the general population; however, more were also divorced. Fewer patients with IBD achieved postsecondary education. In study B, we found that individuals with IBD were twice as likely to be out of the labor force as were controls. Sedentary occupations were twice as likely to be associated with IBD. The income, education level, and marital status of IBD patients were not significantly different from those of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with IBD at some time in the course of their illness are more likely not to be working than are those in the general population. Based on employment status and job classification, as well as income and education, IBD patients are not of a higher socioeconomic status as previously reported. IBD patients are at least as likely as the general population to be married.

The incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is an impression mostly from specialty clinics that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of venous thromboembolic disorders. Our aim was to determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) from a population-based database of IBD patients and, to compare the incidence rates to that of an age, gender and geographically matched population control group. METHODS: IBD patients identified from the administrative claims data of the universal provincial insurance plan of Manitoba were matched 1:10 to randomly selected members of the general population without IBD by year, age, gender, and postal area of residence using Manitoba Health's population registry. The incidence of hospitalization for DVT and PE was calculated from hospital discharge abstracts using ICD-9-CM codes 451.1, 453.x for DVT and 415.1x for PE. Rates were calculated based on person-years of follow-up for 1984-1997. Comparisons to the population cohort yielded age-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR). Rates were calculated based on person-years of follow-up (Crohn's disease = 21,340, ulcerative colitis = 19,665) for 1984-1997. RESULTS: In Crohn's disease the incidence rate of DVT was 31.4/10,000 person-years and of PE was 10.3/10,000 person-years. In ulcerative colitis the incidence rates were 30.0/10,000 person-years for DVT and 19.8/10,000 person-years for PE. The IRR was 4.7 (95% CI, 3.5-6.3) for DVT and 2.9 (1.8-4.7) for PE in Crohn's disease and 2.8 (2.1-3.7) for DVT and 3.6 (2.5-5.2) for PE, in ulcerative colitis. There were no gender differences for IRR. The highest rates of DVT and PE were seen among patients over 60 years old; however the highest IRR for these events were among patients less than 40 years. CONCLUSION: IBD patients have a threefold increased risk of developing DVT or PE.

The prevalence of extraintestinal diseases in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the major extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their relation to disease diagnosis and gender. METHODS: We used the population-based University of Manitoba IBD Database, which includes longitudinal files on all subjects of all health system contacts identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes for visit diagnosis. We extracted a cohort from our database, which included subjects with a known diagnosis of IBD for at least 10 yr. We then determined how many contacts each subject had for each of the following extraintestinal IBD-associated immune diseases: primary sclerosing cholangitis, ankylosing spondylitis, iritis/uveitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and erythema nodosum. We calculated the prevalence of the extraintestinal diseases using an administrative definition of having at least five health system contacts for the diagnosis in question. This administrative definition has previously been validated in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). RESULTS: A total of 6.2% of patients with IBD had one of six major extraintestinal diseases studied in this report. Only 0.3% of patients had multiple extraintestinal diseases. Iritis/uveitis was the most common extraintestinal disease of all assessed (2.2% of women and 1.1% of men). Iritis/uveitis was more common among women, particularly those with UC (3.8%). Primary sclerosing cholangitis was most common among men with UC (3%). Ankylosing spondylitis was more common among men, and the highest rate was seen among men with Crohn's disease (2.7%). Pyoderma gangrenosum was more common in Crohn's (1.2%) with no gender predilection. Erythema nodosum was similarly present in Crohn's and UC but was more common among women (1.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The associations of immune mediated diseases in extraintestinal sites may help us to further our understanding of IBD pathogenesis, and it may help us in developing a paradigm of disease subsets.

Cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to determine the incidence of cancer among persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to compare these incidence rates with those of the non-IBD population using population-based data from the administrative claims data of Manitoba's universal provincial insurance plan (Manitoba Health). METHODS: IBD patients were matched 1:10 to randomly selected members of the population without IBD based on year, age, gender, and postal area of residence. The incidence of cancer was determined by linking records from the IBD and non-IBD cohorts with the comprehensive Cancer Care Manitoba registry. Incidence rates and rate ratios (IRR) were calculated based on person-years of follow-up (Crohn's disease = 21,340 person-years and ulcerative colitis [UC] = 19,665 person-years) for 1984-1997. RESULTS: There was an increased IRR of colon carcinoma for both Crohn disease patients (2.64; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.69-4.12) and UC patients (2.75; 95% CI, 1.91-3.97). There was an increased IRR of rectal carcinoma only among patients with UC (1.90; 95% CI, 1.05-3.43) and an increased IRR of carcinoma of the small intestine only in Crohn disease patients (17.4; 95% CI, 4.16-72.9). An increased IRR of extraintestinal tumors was observed only for the liver and biliary tract in both Crohn disease patients (5.22; 95% CI, 0.96-28.5) and UC patients (3.96; 95% CI, 1.05-14.9). There was an increased IRR of lymphoma for males with Crohn disease only (3.63; 95% CI, 1.53-8.62), and this finding did not appear to be related to use of immunomodulatory therapy. Compared with controls, Crohn's disease was associated with an increased risk of cancer overall, but UC was not. CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be similar increased risks for developing colon carcinoma and hepatobiliary carcinoma among patients with Crohn disease and UC. There is an increased risk of developing rectal carcinoma in UC patients, an increased risk of developing carcinoma of the small bowel in Crohn disease patients, and an increased risk of developing lymphoma among males with Crohn disease.

Use of pharmaceuticals by inflammatory bowel disease patients: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: In 1996 we created the population-based University of Manitoba Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Database. In 1994, Manitoba Health established the Drug Program Information Network (DPIN), which identified all ambulatory prescription drugs dispensed to each individual resident of the province. All residents have a personal health identification number, and use of this number allowed linkage of the IBD database with the DPIN database. Our aim was to use the linkage of these databases to describe prescription drug use by patients with IBD in Manitoba in 1997. METHODS: We analyzed all prescriptions and costs for fiscal year 1997, and stratified our analysis by age, sex, urban versus nonurban residence, income, and disease (Crohn's disease vs ulcerative colitis). We also extracted all subjects diagnosed with IBD in 1984-1987 and those diagnosed in 1994-97 and compared any differences in prescribing patterns in 1997 for these two cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 87.5% of IBD subjects received prescriptions in 1997. There was a direct, significant relationship between increasing age and number of different prescriptions per IBD drug user and total prescription costs per IBD drug user (in adults only), particularly for alimentary drugs. Female patients used a greater number of different prescriptions, but there was no difference between sexes in costs per user. Only 7.8% of patients used immunomodulatory drugs, but these accounted for the greatest cost ($1404) per user. Patients whose disease was diagnosed in 1994-1997 were significantly more likely to be prescribed oral or rectal 5-aminosalicylic acid and steroids than were those whose disease was diagnosed in 1984-1987. In addition, prescriptions for rectal 5-aminosalicylic acid were significantly increased in those patients whose diagnoses were made later over those whose diagnoses were made earlier. Male patients and Crohn's disease patients were more likely to use oral steroids and immunomodulatory medications. Based on the decade of diagnosis, there was no difference in prescribing patterns for immunomodulatory medications. CONCLUSIONS: The linkage of the University of Manitoba IBD Database and the Manitoba DPIN Database allowed a description of patterns of prescription use in a population-based sample of IBD patients. Among the important findings are the lack of effect of gender and urban residence on prescription use in IBD patients; however the decade of diagnosis did affect prescribing patterns. Furthermore, only 7.8% overall receive immunomodulatory medications, but this was independent of the decade of diagnosis.

The incidence of fracture among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of the high prevalence of osteopenia in inflammatory bowel disease is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether persons with inflammatory bowel disease have increased incidence of fracture. DESIGN: Population-based matched cohort study. SETTING: Manitoba, Canada. PATIENTS: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the University of Manitoba IBD Database (n = 6027) were matched to 10 randomly selected persons in the general population without inflammatory bowel disease (n = 60 270) by year, age, sex, and postal area of residence. MEASUREMENTS: The incidence of hospitalization for hip fracture was determined on the basis of hospital discharge abstracts. Outpatient medical billing records and hospital discharge abstracts were used to calculate the incidence of spine, rib, and forearm fractures. Rates were calculated on the basis of person-years of follow-up for 1984 to 1997. RESULTS: Persons with inflammatory bowel disease had significantly increased incidence of fractures at the spine (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.34 to 2.24]; P < 0.001), hip (IRR, 1.59 [CI, 1.27 to 2.00]; P < 0.001), wrist/forearm (IRR, 1.33 [CI, 1.11 to 1.58]; P = 0.001), and rib (IRR, 1.25 [CI, 1.02 to 1.52]; P = 0.03) and of any of these fractures (IRR, 1.41 [CI, 1.27 to 1.56]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of fracture among persons with inflammatory bowel disease is 40% greater than that in the general population.