High incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Northern Australia: a prospective community population-based Australian incidence study in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region.

Background And Aims: To determine the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region in Northern Queensland (-21.14° S) and to allow a comparison with Southern Australian and New Zealand data (Geelong, Australia -38.14° S; Tasmania -41.