BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is seasonal variability in exacerbations of ulcerative colitis. METHODOLOGY: The timing of ulcerative colitis relapses was retrospectively studied in a group of consecutive patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Ninety-four patients were followed-up at least every three months for a mean of 29.3 (range: 12-67) months. RESULTS: In total, 248 relapses of ulcerative colitis were observed with a mean number of 2.6 (range: 0-9) per patient. The timing of the relapses was characterized by a clear monthly and seasonal pattern (p < 0.001). In particular, the occurrence of relapses peaked during October and November (observed/expected (O/E): 30/20 in both months) and showed three troughs: during July and August, during December, and during February (O/E: 13/21, 7/21, 8/20, and 15/21, respectively). Moreover, the relapse rate was high during autumn and spring (O/E: 84/62 and 72/61, respectively) and low during summer and winter (O/E: 45/61 and 47/64, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the premise that there is seasonal variability in terms of relapses in ulcerative colitis patients and suggest that the role of seasonal triggering factors must be further investigated.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is seasonal variability in exacerbations of ulcerative colitis. METHODOLOGY: The timing of ulcerative colitis relapses was retrospectively studied in a group of consecutive patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Ninety-four patients were followed-up at least every three months for a mean of 29.3 (range: 12-67) months. RESULTS: In total, 248 relapses of ulcerative colitis were observed with a mean number of 2.6 (range: 0-9) per patient. The timing of the relapses was characterized by a clear monthly and seasonal pattern (p < 0.001). In particular, the occurrence of relapses peaked during October and November (observed/expected (O/E): 30/20 in both months) and showed three troughs: during July and August, during December, and during February (O/E: 13/21, 7/21, 8/20, and 15/21, respectively). Moreover, the relapse rate was high during autumn and spring (O/E: 84/62 and 72/61, respectively) and low during summer and winter (O/E: 45/61 and 47/64, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the premise that there is seasonal variability in terms of relapses in ulcerative colitispatients and suggest that the role of seasonal triggering factors must be further investigated.
Authors: Yoon Suk Jung; Chang Seok Song; Eun Ran Kim; Dong Il Park; Young Ho Kim; Jae Myung Cha; Jae Hak Kim; Suck Ho Lee; Chang Soo Eun; Dong Soo Han Journal: Gut Liver Date: 2013-08-14 Impact factor: 4.519
Authors: Adam C Stein; John Nick Gaetano; Jeffrey Jacobs; Rangesh Kunnavakkam; Marc Bissonnette; Joel Pekow Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-08-31 Impact factor: 3.240