P001 North-South gradient in the Incidence of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Along the Atlantic Coast

P001  North-South gradient in the Incidence of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Along the Atlantic Coast

Best Pediatric Abstract

 

Robalino Ernesto1, Hanke Rachel1, Laxman Meera2, Palomo Pablo2, Coathup Melanie1, Adamson William2, Meckmongkol Teerin2
1 University of Central Florida, Orlando, United States, 2 Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, United States

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), that involve chronic inflammation of the of digestive tract.  Pediatric IBD is defined when onset of symptoms and diagnosis occurs in patients 18 years or less.  East-West and North-South gradients have been reported in Canada and Europe.  We aimed to evaluate whether a similar gradient exists in the US among the pediatric population.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2018 using electronic health records from one national children’s hospital that participates in the PEDSnet research network.  We extracted information on patient demographics, encounters with healthcare providers, diagnoses recorded, and procedures performed during these encounters from patient’s electronic health records.  The outcomes of interest include geographic location (North vs South), gender, race/ethnicity, age at diagnosis, tobacco use, socioeconomic status, and need for surgery.

RESULTS: A total of 2,409 patients 18 years of age or less met the eligibility criteria of the study; 1818 (75.5%) non-Hispanic White, 320 (13.3%) non-Hispanic Black, 198 (8.2%), Hispanic, 60 (2.5%) Asian, and 13 (5%) “other.” There was no difference in the male predominance in all groups between the North and the South (55.3% vs 54.3%, p=0.62).  The incidence of IBD among the non-Hispanic Whites was greater in North (78.5% vs 72.2%, p=0.0002).  The incidence of IBD among the Hispanics was greater in the South (5.3% vs 11.4%, p<0.0001).  There was no difference in incidence of IBD among the non-Hispanic Black, Asian, or “other” group.  There was no difference in incidence of CD between the North and South (68.8% vs 69%, P=0.92); however, UC was more prevalent in the South (23.2% vs 27.3%, p=0.02).  Further breakdown of CD and UC with respect to ethnicity revealed the incidence of CD and UC in the Hispanic population is greater in the South (5% vs 10.3%, p<0.0001; 6.2% vs 14%, p=0.001, respectively).  There was no difference seen in non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Asians, and “others” with respect to CD, UC or UDC.

CONCLUSION(S): We demonstrate a North-South gradient in the pediatric in the non-Hispanic and Hispanic population with IBD.  There is a higher incidence of UC in the pediatric population in the South.  Furthermore, there is a higher incidence of CD and UC in the Hispanic population in the South compared to the North.  Further epidemiologic studies are needed to assess the racial/ethnic differences that contribute to this North-South gradient.