ABSTRACT
Guyana has 2 predominant ethnic groups, Indo-Guyanese (51 percent) and Afro-Guyanese (30.0 percent). The dietary pattern is different in these two groups. The prevalence of some disorders, diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease in particular, seems to be related to ethnic origin. Is there a difference in the spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders in these two groups? What relationship is there to dietary pattern? Before undertaking prospective studies to answer the above questions, a preliminary study using records from Georgetown Hospital, 1980-1984, was undertaken. Peptic ulcer disease, which was almost exclusively duodenal ulcer, was the commonest disorder; there were over 200 cases seen annually. It occurred mainly in Afro-Guyanese males. Appendicitis (ruptured, 157: inflammed, 167: normal, 17) was more prevalent in Indo-Guyanese; gallstones (59) were twice as common in Indo- as in Afro-Guyanese; gastric cancer (37) was relatively common; diverticular disease (36) affected the Afro-Guyanese; 5 of the 7 cases of ulcerative colitis were of African origin whereas 3 of 4 cases of Crohn's disease were of Indian origin; colonic cancer was frequently suspected. However, only 8 cases (6 African and 2 Indian) were diagnosed over the 5-year period. Using the population of the catchment area for Georgetown as the denominator, appropriate adjustments were made for population ethnic distribution. There seems to be some indication of a pattern of distribution in gastrointestinal disease related to ethnic origin, and perhaps dietary intake. Prospective work with improved diagnostic techniques is needed to investigate this further (AU)