KASID and Intestinal Research journal: a central academic hub for research of intestinal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region

gion, approaching that of Western countries.These disparities highlight the pressing need for standardized population-level disease surveillance and investigations across Asia.7 Asian IBD patients also exhibit phenotypic profiles that differ from those of Western patients.8 UC cases in this region more frequently present with proctitis (E1), a trend likely because of increased colonoscopy utilization and early detection programs, especially in Korea and Japan.9 Historically, UC was far more common than CD, but this gap is narrowing due to a more rapid rise in CD diagnoses.10,11 Among Asian patients with CD, ileocolonic (L3) involvement is predominant, with a notably higher prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (L4) disease than that in Western populations.12,13 Over time, the disease behavior usually progresses from inflammatory to stricturing and penetrating, with perianal involvement appearing to be disproportionately prevalent.These patterns may reflect distinct environmental exposures, healthcare practices, or genetic backgrounds, underscoring the necessity for region-specific clinical phenotyping.14 Environmental and demographic factors shaping the Asian IBD landscape include protective influences, such as breastfeeding and regular physical activity, which were generally consistent across regions.However, the association between smoking and appendectomy risk differs from that observed in Western countries.The adoption of Westernized dietary patterns, marked by high consumption of fats, sugars, and red