Ulcerative colitis in Finland:

Summary Patients with ulcerative colitis admitted to central hospitals in Finland over a period of 12 years are described. Patients who had proctitis only are excluded from the material, which otherwise represents a selection of the entire incidence of the disease. The average annual incidence was 0.93 per 100,000 inhabitants, and showed a rising trend. A slight male predominance was noted. Rural areas were proportionately more represented among the patients. The reliability and epidemiologic significance of the findings are discussed.