epidemiology of ulcerative colitis
Last edited 07/2019 and last reviewed 01/2023
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is most commonly seen in late adolescence and early adulthood although it may occur at any age. A small peak in incidence after the fifth decade has been observed in some populations (1).
The condition affects both males and females equally (1).There is an annual incidence of 5-8/100,000 in most communities of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon origin in north-western Europe, North America and New Zealand. The prevalence of symptomatic disease in north-western Europe is 70-150/100,000. This disease is very uncommon in Asia and Africa. As in Crohn's disease, familial clustering may be seen.
NICE state (2):
- around 146,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (Crohn's & Colitis UK)
- cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown
- can develop at any age, but peak incidence is between the ages of 15 and 25 years, with a second, smaller peak between 55 and 65 years (although this second peak has not been universally demonstrated).
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