Inflammatory bowel disease has stages of epidemiology that can be tracked across global regions

The spatio-temporal evolution of inflammatory bowel disease across the world follows four epidemiological stages: emergence, acceleration in incidence, compounding prevalence and prevalence equilibrium. Classifying regions by epidemiological stage enables health-care systems to prepare for the evolving global burden. Mapping the epidemiological stages of inflammatory bowel disease can help health-care systems prepare for its evolving burden.