BACKGROUND: Intestinal ischaemia, including ischaemic colitis and acute mesenteric ischaemia, causes significant morbidity and mortality. Few population-based studies have estimated incidence and potential risk factors for this disease.
AIMS: To estimate the incidence of intestinal ischaemia and identify the associated risk factors in cohorts: (i) patients with irritable bowel syndrome and/or chronic constipation (IBS/CC/both), (ii) individuals free of these conditions.
METHODS: Population-based case–control analysis nested in a cohort of patients with first ever recorded diagnosis of IBS/CC/both and a cohort free of these conditions from general population using the General Practice Research Database.
RESULTS: Of 78 cases of intestinal ischaemia, 71 were from general population, seven from the IBS/CC/both cohort. Incidence rate of intestinal ischaemia in IBS/CC/both patients vs. general population was 4.49:1.09 per 100 000 person-years; age- and gender-adjusted incidence rate ratio (95% CI) was 2.7 (1.2–5.9). Inflammatory bowel disease and heart failure showed an association with ischaemic colitis [OR (95% CI): 4.2 (0.5–38.4) and 5.6 (2.2–14.1)], but none with acute mesenteric ischaemia. Diabetes and prior cardiovascular surgery were associated with higher risk of acute mesenteric ischaemia, but showed no association with ischaemic colitis.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that different risk factors are associated with acute mesenteric ischaemia and ischaemic colitis. However, due to small number of patients, associations should be carefully interpreted.
