The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in an Israeli Arab population

To determine the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among the 1.5million Arab residents in Israel who represent 20% of the total population. Family physicians in all Arab towns and villages were contacted to obtain information on patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Relevant clinical data were retrieved and updated to December 31, 2009. Information was obtained from 23/71 municipalities approached (representing 200,000 out of 1.5million Arabs). There were 64 confirmed cases of Crohn's disease indicating a prevalence rate of 32/100,000. The rate of smoking within this cohort was lower than in the general population (1.5% vs. 40%; P