Table 5.

Effect of previous appendicectomy and current smoking on medical therapeutic needs during the course of ulcerative colitis

	Non-appendicectomised		Appendicectomised
	Non-smokers	Smokers	Non-smokers	Smokers
n	485	104	43	6
Duration of disease (y)	6.8 (8.1)	7.7 (7.7)	9.7 (7.0)	8.2 (5.5)
No requiring oral glucocorticoids	345	65	30	1
Per cent	71	62	70	17
Relative risk		0.88	0.98	0.23
95% CI		0.75–1.03	0.80–1.20	0.04–1.40
No requiring intensive intravenous treatment	211	30	20	1
Per cent	44	29*	47	17
Relative risk		0.66	1.07	0.38
95% CI		0.48–0.91	0.76–1.50	0.06–2.30
No requiring immunosuppressive therapy	101	9	11	0
Per cent	21	12*	26	0
Relative risk		0.42	1.23	—
95% CI		0.22–0.79	0.72–2.10	—

*Significantly different (p<0.05) from non-appendicectomised non-smoker group.