Incidence and prevalence of colostomies. Future of stoma associations. Results of a survey in the Cote d'Or department.

Few data are available in France about the impact of Ostomy Associations in the population of patients with permanent colostomy. The aim of this study was to assess the percentage of patients with permanent colostomy involved in local Ostomy Associations in a well-defined population (Cote-d'Or department, 493 931 inhabitants) in 1992, A minimum number of incident colostomy cases was computed using data from the Digestive Tract Tumor Registry in case of cancer and using the surgical reports from the University Hospital in case of benign disease. The maximum number of incident cases was computed using results from a survey conducted by the Public Administration (Social Security) during the same period. An interval of prevalent cases was assessed the number of collecting pouches based on sold during 1992 in the same area. A colostomy was set up in 37 to 84 patients. The number of prevalent cases was in a range of 274 to 410 patients. The corresponding percentages of Ostomy Associations members were included in a 8.3% to 19% range for incident cases and 9.5% to 19% for prevalent cases. These percentages are less than 30%, which is the presumed value previously evaluated in a survey conducted among physicians. As the incidence of colostomy cases continues to decline regularly, more effective methods must be developed to maintain a constant number of members.