Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Migrant and Native Jewish Populations of Southern Israel

The Prevalence of Crohn’s Disease in Israel: A 20-Year Survey

“…The mean annual incidence was 4.8/100,000/year between 1987 and 1997, and 5.2/100,000/year between 1997 and 2007. This is in contrast with the low incidence of 2-3/100,000/year described in Israel by other researchers [4][5][6][8][9][10]. It seems that we are close to reaching a plateau in Israel, similar to that described 20 years ago in North America, where the incidence was seen to increase between the 1960s and 1980s, then reaching a plateau [15][16][17][18].…”

“…Among Diaspora Jews, the disease is more common than the general population or the Jewish population of Israel [3]. In Israeli surveys in the 1980s, the prevalence rates were about 20/100,000 and the incidence was 2-3/100,000/year, higher for European/American-born than for Asian/African-or Israeli-born Jews [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Recently, a trend for the rising incidence of Crohn's disease was described in the Israeli population of the south of Israel, reaching a prevalence rate of 50.6/100,000 and an annual incidence rate of 4.2/ 100,000/year [10].…”

Environmental Influences on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Manifestations

“…Jewish people immigrating from Central and Eastern Europe, but especially immigrants from countries outside Europe and North America have a lower risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease. These difference are not observed in second generation immigrants [14].…”

The Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Diseases in Israeli Adolescents and its Association With Body Mass Index, Gender, and Jewish Ethnicity

“…[47][48][49] In the study population, an increased prevalence of IBD in persons from Ashkenazi compared with Sephardic origin was identified in accordance with previous reports. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Additionally, lower BMI was associated with higher prevalence of IBD, a finding that is not surprising considering the malabsorptive aspects of Crohn's disease.…”

“…10,11 Finally, Jewish ethnicity (Ashkenazi or Sephardic) was studied in relation to disease prevalence, and was found to be an important factor in GI conditions such as PUD and IBD. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Medical screening for universal military service in the Israeli Defense Forces offers a rare opportunity to study the prevalence of GI disease in adolescents in a uniform manner, which may be less biased by response rates or factors that influence diagnosis rates. As all adolescents from the 17-year-old age cohort are screened, it offers a unique view of an entire age cohort.…”