Risk factors in ulcerative colitis.

In 504 Jewish patients with ulcerative colitis the following risk factors were evaluated: sex, age at onset of disease, community group, extent of disease, and duration of disease. The disease was more severe in females. Severe attacks, weight loss, iron deficiency, liver disease and arthritis were significantly more frequent in females than in mles. Mortality was higher in patients who contracted the disease above age 50. The disease appeared to be more severe in patiets of Ashkenazi origin as compared to Orientals. The difference failed to reach statistical signifcance except for mortality. We confirmed the well-known adverse effect of extensive colonic involvement. Severe attacks, a severe course of the disease and extensive colonic involvement are more frequent with increasing duration of the disease.