Epidemiological and histopathological spectrum of gastrointestinal tract disorders: a decade of records from the UAE

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders represent a major public health concern, yet data from the UAE remain limited, particularly regarding histopathological trends. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological spectrum and distribution of GI disorders reported to a tertiary care pathology center over a ten-year period. Histopathology-based surveillance offers unique insight into tissue-level patterns often missed by clinical registries.

Methods: A retrospective, record-based analysis of 12,688 GI-related histopathology reports was conducted from Thumbay Laboratories, UAE (2013–2023). Data was extracted using a structured checklist and analyzed in SPSS v29. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were applied ( < 0.05).

Results: Of the 12,688 cases, 67.5% were male and 32.5% female ( < 0.001). Most patients were aged 21–40 years (60.3%). The stomach (29.6%), large intestine (21.2%), and appendix (20.4%) were the most affected organs. Gastritis (27.3%), intestinal conditions (20.6%), and appendicitis (20.0%) predominated. Males showed higher rates of gastritis and appendicitis, while cholecystitis was more common in females (21.4%). Appendicitis was dominant in those < 20 years (60.1%), while neoplasms and gastritis were more prevalent in older adults (≥ 61 years; < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study provides a decade-long overview of GI pathology trends in the UAE. The findings highlight age- and sex-specific patterns and support future research integrating clinical and demographic data to inform targeted public health strategies.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-025-04302-2.