Gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences in patients with ulcerative colitis in a Chinese population

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences of ulcerative colitis in a Chinese population, and to determine information on the role of lifestyle in the onset of ulcerative colitis.

Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis established between Jan 2000 and Dec 2007 were investigated according to the age, gender and inductive factors of onset. Assessment of living condition of the patients was performed according to the place of living: city or countryside. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test.

Results: A total of 293 ulcerative colitis patients were involved in the study. The onset age of the rural patients was earlier than that of the urban patients (p=0.00295), while there was no difference in onset age between male and female patients (p=0.067995). Some inductive factors, such as psychological stress, fatigue, cold catching, and spicy or unwashed food, may contribute to the progress of ulcerative colitis.

Conclusion: Both gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences were found in the expression of ulcerative colitis in the Chinese population. Lifestyle factors such as psychological stress and fatigue may contribute to the expression of ulcerative colitis.