[Data on the epidemiology of Crohn disease in the city of Cologne].

In the period between 1.7.1985 and 30.6. 1986 283 patients with Crohn's disease were recorded prospectively in the city of Cologne, which has a total of 922,552 inhabitants. This corresponds to a prevalence of 30.67 per 100,000 inhabitants (women 35.97, men 24.90). During this one-year survey period, 47 new cases of the disease occurred, i.e. the incidence is 5.1 per 100,000 (women 5.8, men 4.3). The highest total incidence is in the age group of 20 to 24 years (17.3) and the highest total prevalence is in the group of 25 to 29 years of age (90.0). There is a substantial sex difference with a female/male ratio of 173:110. Only data of patients residing primarily in Cologne were evaluated. Figures are given on the diagnostic latency, the locations, operations, complications and misdiagnoses of Crohn's disease.