en Gastroentrology Gastroentrology Short Communication Short Communication <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><em><strong>Background: </strong></em></span>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a broad term that refers to a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that have an unknown origin and might be associated with other diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of chronic diseases in patients with IBD<span dir="RTL">.</span><br> <span style="color:#0000ff;"><em><strong>Methods:</strong></em></span> In this case-control study, 280 patients with IBD were compared with 280 healthy individuals, frequency-matched by age, sex, place of residence and marital status. Random sampling was performed in patients that referred to the internal medicine and gastroenterology wards of hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and a checklist for chronic diseases, which were completed through interviews with the case and control groups<span dir="RTL">. </span><br> <span style="color:#0000ff;"><em><strong>Results:</strong></em></span> Two hundred and twenty-nine (81.78%) patients with IBD had at least one chronic disease. Patients with IBD were at increased risks of rheumatoid arthritis (OR= 4.48, 95%CI: 1.48, 13.54, P= 0.008), eye diseases (OR= 3.49, 95%CI: 1.68, 7.28, P= 0.001), liver diseases (OR= 2.74, 95%CI: 1.40, 5.34, P= 0.003 ), anemia (OR = 2.53, 95%CI: 1.56, 4.13, P= 0.000), depression (OR= 2.43, 95%CI: 1.58, 3.74, P= 0.000), skin diseases (OR= 2.36, 95%CI: 1.18, 4.74, P= 0.015) and hypertension (OR= 1.77, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.95, P= 0.028).<br> <span style="color:#0000ff;"><em><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp;</strong></em></span> The frequency of chronic diseases associated with IBD has been high, therefore, physicians and health care professionals should consider the possibility of other chronic diseases when dealing with IBD patients.</span></span> Case control study, Chronic disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease 363 367 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2213-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ali Zabihi zabihi_alii@yahoo.com 100319475328460036516 100319475328460036516 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran. Mehrdad Kashifard Mehrdadkashifard@yahoo.com 100319475328460036517 100319475328460036517 No Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran Seyedeh Roghieh Jafarian Amiri jafarianamiri@gmail.com 100319475328460036518 100319475328460036518 No Nursing Care Research Center, Health Research Institute, Nursing & Midwifery School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran. Mahdi Sepidarkish mahdi.sepidarkish@gmail.com 100319475328460036519 100319475328460036519 No Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran. Valiollah Padehban padehban68@yahoo.com 100319475328460036520 100319475328460036520 No Student research committee, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Mojtaba Qanbari Qalehsari m2ghanbari@yahoo.com 100319475328460036521 100319475328460036521 Yes Nursing Care Research Center, Health Research Institute, Nursing & Midwifery School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran.