Background/Aims: There has been a paucity of published data on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Therefore, we aimed to study IBD prevalence and patient awareness among adults in Kazakhstan. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out among subjects of both sexes aged 18 years and older using IBD Alert Questionnaire (CalproQuest), single fecal calprotectin test, and endoscopy with biopsy to verify IBD from January to December 2017, across regions of Kazakhstan. All participants were included in the study after providing informed consent. Results: Out of 115,556 subjects, there were 128 confirmed IBD cases, in which 36 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 92 ulcerative colitis (UC) cases identified. The age and sex-adjusted IBD prevalence were 113.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.0–158.9) per 100,000 population. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence for UC were 84.4 (95% CI, 44.8–123.9) and for CD were 29.5 (95% CI, 8.2–50.9) per 100,000 population. Conclusions This is the first report on the prevalence of IBD with a verified diagnosis in the Central Asia and could be used to better plan and allocate healthcare resources for IBD management program.

Background: By analyzing small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) performed in two large hospitals in Kazakhstan, we aimed to explore the characteristics of patients representative of Central Asia and the technical characteristics of SBCE. Methods: SBCE cases were retrospectively analyzed. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the patients’ demographic data, diagnosis, and clinical symptoms. The results of SBCE, such as the lesions found, transit time and retention rate in the stomach and small bowel, and bowel visualization quality, were analyzed. Complications related to SBCE were investigated. Results: SBCE was performed in 123 patients. Abdominal pain (81.3%) and chronic diarrhea (66.7%) were the most common symptoms, followed by weight loss (25.2%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (15.4%). The most common disease was Crohn’s disease (52.0%). Definite lesions, such as ulcers, polyps, and bleeding, were identified in 55.3% of patients. SBCE was successfully completed in all cases except for 11 (9.1%). The average small bowel transit time was 4 hours and 28 minutes. Excellent visualization (>75% of mucosa) was reported in 82.5% of patients. No patients experienced complications. Conclusions SBCE performed in Kazakhstan showed a high diagnostic yield with high-quality patient selection and no complications.

Background: By analyzing small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) performed in two large hospitals in Kazakhstan, we aimed to explore the characteristics of patients representative of Central Asia and the technical characteristics of SBCE. Methods: SBCE cases were retrospectively analyzed. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the patients’ demographic data, diagnosis, and clinical symptoms. The results of SBCE, such as the lesions found, transit time and retention rate in the stomach and small bowel, and bowel visualization quality, were analyzed. Complications related to SBCE were investigated. Results: SBCE was performed in 123 patients. Abdominal pain (81.3%) and chronic diarrhea (66.7%) were the most common symptoms, followed by weight loss (25.2%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (15.4%). The most common disease was Crohn’s disease (52.0%). Definite lesions, such as ulcers, polyps, and bleeding, were identified in 55.3% of patients. SBCE was successfully completed in all cases except for 11 (9.1%). The average small bowel transit time was 4 hours and 28 minutes. Excellent visualization (>75% of mucosa) was reported in 82.5% of patients. No patients experienced complications. Conclusions SBCE performed in Kazakhstan showed a high diagnostic yield with high-quality patient selection and no complications.

Background: By analyzing small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) performed in two large hospitals in Kazakhstan, we aimed to explore the characteristics of patients representative of Central Asia and the technical characteristics of SBCE. Methods: SBCE cases were retrospectively analyzed. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the patients’ demographic data, diagnosis, and clinical symptoms. The results of SBCE, such as the lesions found, transit time and retention rate in the stomach and small bowel, and bowel visualization quality, were analyzed. Complications related to SBCE were investigated. Results: SBCE was performed in 123 patients. Abdominal pain (81.3%) and chronic diarrhea (66.7%) were the most common symptoms, followed by weight loss (25.2%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (15.4%). The most common disease was Crohn’s disease (52.0%). Definite lesions, such as ulcers, polyps, and bleeding, were identified in 55.3% of patients. SBCE was successfully completed in all cases except for 11 (9.1%). The average small bowel transit time was 4 hours and 28 minutes. Excellent visualization (>75% of mucosa) was reported in 82.5% of patients. No patients experienced complications. Conclusions SBCE performed in Kazakhstan showed a high diagnostic yield with high-quality patient selection and no complications.

Background: By analyzing small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) performed in two large hospitals in Kazakhstan, we aimed to explore the characteristics of patients representative of Central Asia and the technical characteristics of SBCE. Methods: SBCE cases were retrospectively analyzed. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the patients’ demographic data, diagnosis, and clinical symptoms. The results of SBCE, such as the lesions found, transit time and retention rate in the stomach and small bowel, and bowel visualization quality, were analyzed. Complications related to SBCE were investigated. Results: SBCE was performed in 123 patients. Abdominal pain (81.3%) and chronic diarrhea (66.7%) were the most common symptoms, followed by weight loss (25.2%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (15.4%). The most common disease was Crohn’s disease (52.0%). Definite lesions, such as ulcers, polyps, and bleeding, were identified in 55.3% of patients. SBCE was successfully completed in all cases except for 11 (9.1%). The average small bowel transit time was 4 hours and 28 minutes. Excellent visualization (>75% of mucosa) was reported in 82.5% of patients. No patients experienced complications. Conclusions SBCE performed in Kazakhstan showed a high diagnostic yield with high-quality patient selection and no complications.