Spatiotemporal Mapping IDs Four Stages of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Evolution

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 6, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 -- Machine learning has enabled spatiotemporal mapping of the four stages of the evolution of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study published online April 30 in Nature.

Lindsay Hracs, Ph.D., from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and colleagues identified 522 population-based studies encompassing 82 global regions and spanning more than a century (1920 to 2024) to show spatiotemporal transitions across IBD stages 1 to 3 and model stage 4 progression using machine learning.

The researchers report that developing regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are likely in stage 1 (emergence) and transitioning to stage 2 (acceleration in incidence) following economic growth, industrialization, urbanization, and changes in lifestyle and diet. Countries in North America, Europe, and Oceania are currently in stage 3 (compounding prevalence), with a growing number of people living with IBD, including an increasing proportion of seniors. The prevalence of IBD will continue to rise as people live longer with the disease. However, the rate of growth is expected to slow, with an aging population, and will move toward stage 4 (prevalence equilibrium), where new diagnoses are gradually balanced by age-related deaths.

"The findings enable health authorities to prepare for IBD's growing burden and tailor interventions -- whether clinical, policy driven, or preventive," principal author Gilaad G. Kaplan, M.D., also from the University of Calgary, said in a statement.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-05-07 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords