LAUSR

INTRODUCTION The epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Poland has been recognized to only a limited extent Objectives: W aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of the aforementioned disease by analysing data from the National Health Fund, Poland's sole public-health insurer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Administrative health claims collected over the 2009-2020 period were used to identify patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). A definition of a case comprised ≥2 records assigned K50 or K51 codes, plus ≥2 prescriptions for IBD drugs reimbursed, or else intestinal surgery preceding the record. The crude and European age-standardized rates (EASR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for prevalence and incidence. Time trends were also analyzed. RESULTS As of 2020 there were 23,574 patients with CD and 73,235 with UC. The CD and UC prevalence was respectively 61.6 [EASR 60.3] and 191.4 [EASR 187.85] per 100,000. The prevalence of CD was higher in men [64.1; EASR 61.3] than in women [59.3; EASR 58.4]. Similarly, the prevalence of UC was higher in men [201.4; EASR 202.7] than in women [182.0; EASR 175.5]. The incidence of CD was 4.7 per 100 000 [EASR 4.6], that of UC 12.5 [EASR 12.3]. Through the period 2012-2018, the prevalence of both conditions rose, even as downward trends were noted for disease incidence. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence and incidence of IBD in Poland are presented, with time trends showing a substantial increase in the disease burden over the years 2009-2020.