Table 2

Patients stratified by type of disease

Characteristic Crohn's disease (n=383) Ulcerative colitis (n=434) p Value
Age at diagnosis in years (median, range)26  (1–75)29  (10–78)0.0282-151
Time since diagnosis in years, (median, range)8 (0–51)7 (0–46)0.312-151
Use of corticosteroid enemas82 (21%)313 (72%)<0.0012-152
Use of systemic corticosteroids308 (80%)311 (72%)0.0042-152
Current use of vitamin D supplements70 (18%)36 (8%)<0.0012-152
Current use of calcium supplements112 (29%)60 (14%)<0.0012-152
Current use of multivitamin supplements0.0012-152
 No89 (23%)139 (32%)
 Entire year203 (53%)176 (41%)
 Part of the year90 (24%)118 (27%)
Sunbathing285 (75%)302 (70%)0.112-152
Current use of systemic cytostatic agents2-153 72 (19%)65 (15%)0.142-152
Current use of systemic 5-aminosalicylates2-154 186 (49%)267 (61%)<0.0012-152
Current use of B12 supplements42 (11%)5 (1%)<0.0012-152
Current use of folic acid supplements13 (3%)3 (1%)0.0052-152
Current use of iron supplements20 (5%)4 (1%)<0.0012-152
Current use of cholestyramine therapy31 (8%)0 (0%)<0.0012-152
Undergone bowel surgery212 (60%)77 (18%)<0.0012-152
Age at first bowel surgery in years (median, range)29 (14–75)32 (10–59)0.162-151
Number of surgical procedures (median, range)2 (1–20)2 (1–10)0.072-151
Had a stoma71 (19%)65 (15%)0.192-152
  • 2-150 Only female respondents.

  • 2-151 Mann-Whitney test (2p).

  • 2-152 χ2 for contingency tables (p).

  • 2-153 Current systemic therapy with azathioprine or cyclosporin.

  • 2-154 Current systemic therapy with mesalazine, olsalazine, or sulphasalazine.

  • Owing to missing values, sums may not add up.

  • HRT, hormone replacement therapy.