Clinical characteristics and phenotypes of inflammatory bowel disease in Northern Central America: initial results from the Northern Central America Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), and IBD unclassified (IBDU), affects over 7 million people worldwide. While incidence has plateaued in higher-income countries, it continues to rise in lower- and middle-income regions, including Latin America. Data from northern Central America remain scarce. Aim: To characterize the clinical and phenotypic profile of IBD in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Methods: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Northern Central America Research and Epidemiological Study (IBD-NCARES) was a multinational, multicenter descriptive study spanning 15 years. Cases were identified using ICD-10 codes and confirmed by chart review. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables were collected. Results: Among 277 patients, UC was the predominant subtype (57.8%), highest in Honduras (71.4%). CD accounted for 11.9% of cases, with greater frequency in Honduras (25.7%). IBDU was frequent in El Salvador (40.3%) and Guatemala (38.2%) compared with Honduras (2.9%). Delayed diagnosis (>1 year) occurred in 35% of UC and 60.6% of CD patients. Complicated CD was observed in 54.5% (B2 30.3%; B3 24.2%). Extraintestinal manifestations included vascular (18.2%) and hepatic/pancreatic (9.1%) complications. Most patients received 5-aminosalicylates or systemic steroids. Only 5.1% of the overall cohort received advanced therapies. Conclusion: This first multinational study of IBD in northern Central America highlights UC predominance, high rates of IBDU (likely inflated by incomplete diagnostics), frequent diagnostic delay, and limited use of advanced therapies. These findings underscore the need for regional registries, improved diagnostic capacity, and expanded therapeutic resources.
Source: Crohn s & Colitis 360
Authors: Eleazar E Montalvan-Sanchez, Michael Dougherty, Dalton Norwood, Aida Rodriguez-Murillo, Kathya Jimenez, Daniela M Montalvan-Sanchez, Luis A Najera, Blanca A Avalos-Quijano, Oscar G Avelar-Escobar, Marco A Calix-Cerrato, Gustavo A Ramos-Aguilar, Daniel Guifarro, Jeffrey Freidenson, Candida Leiva, Douglas Morgan, Deborah Proctor, Alexander N Levy
Institutions: Yale University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Nevada, Reno, Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Universidad Evangelica de El Salvador, Secretaria de Salud, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Roosevelt Hospital
Language: English
Topic: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,378
OpenAlex ID: W7224284154