The Association of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases with Autoimmune Disorders: A Report from the epi-IIRN.

Background And Aims: There are conflicting data on the association between inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] and autoimmunity disorders. The aim of this study was to explore this association including the effect of medications.

Methods: We utilized health administrative data collected by three of the four health maintenance organizations [HMOs] in Israel, covering 52% of the country's population.

Development and validation of novel algorithms to identify patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in Israel: an epi-IIRN group study.

Background: Before embarking on administrative research, validated case ascertainment algorithms must be developed. We aimed at developing algorithms for identifying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, date of disease onset, and IBD type (Crohn's disease [CD] vs ulcerative colitis [UC]) in the databases of the four Israeli Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) covering 98% of the population.

Methods: Algorithms were developed on 5,131 IBD patients and 2,072 controls, following independent chart review (60% CD and 39% UC).