The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Crohn’s disease in the Hong Kong Chinese population: experiences from a regional hospital

KH Lok, HG Hung, CH Ng, KK Li, KF Li, ML Szeto
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To study the descriptive epidemiology and clinical profile of patients with Crohn's disease.

DESIGN. Retrospective study.

SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Patients with Crohn's disease diagnosed between January 1991 and December 2006 inclusive.

RESULTS. Over the period studied, 27 Chinese patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease in our hospital. Our hospital-based incidence and prevalence rate had increased more than 2- and 5-fold, respectively over that period. The mean age at diagnosis was 26 years and median duration of disease was 81 months. Most patients had ileocolonic disease (67%) followed by Crohn's colitis (22%) and ileal disease (11%); more patients had non-stricturing and non-penetrating disease (63%) than stricturing (15%) or penetrating disease (22%). Peri-anal disease occurred in 37% of our patients. At diagnosis, many of the patients (41%) had mild-moderate disease, but 30% each had moderate-severe and severe-fulminant disease. At the time of this study, 85% of the patients were in disease remission with medical treatment. However, 48% had undergone surgery for diagnosis or complications. No patient had developed colorectal cancer or died.

CONCLUSIONS. The incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease are increasing in the Chinese population. It usually affects young persons with a substantial proportion of patients presented with severe-fulminant disease. More epidemiological and clinical studies are needed for this emerging disease in Asian regions.

Hong Kong Med J 2007;13:436-41

Key words: Crohn disease; Epidemiologic studies; Incidence; Prevalence