[Reporting and mapping of megacolon in a Colombian population: analysis of 10 years and 937 cases].

Abstract

Objetive: To analyze the epidemiological report and geospatial behavior of megacolon in the department of Caldas.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study, where data from the Caldas regional health territorial, compatible with suspicion or definitive diagnosis of Hirschprung's disease and megacolon during 2009-2019 were analyzed. Univariate analysis was per-formed to calculate frequencies and percentages. QGIS v.3.24 was used to establish the geospatial location of the cases.

Results: A total of 937 cases were reported (55% classified as megacolon, with ICD-10 code K593). The years 2013 and 2009 were the years with the highest and lowest number of cases reported (145 vs. 40 cases). Seventy percent of the cases were of diagnostic impression (n=652) and only 10% corresponded to definitive cases (n=98). The 75.7% occurred in minors and 85% (n=782) corresponded to cases in the department of Caldas, mainly in Manizales (n=643).

Conclusions: Between 2009 and 2019, a high prevalence of megacolon cases was evidenced in the department of Caldas, with a reduced trend in recent years. 7 out of 10 cases are reported as diagnostic impression and in this same proportion, it occurred in minors. Only 15% of the cases come from outside the department. Finally, it was observed that the available data base is limited with respect to sociodemographic or clinical data, which would allow a more in-depth analysis of a disease that does not have solid epidemiological data.