Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01279-y (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Inflammatory polyps occur more frequently in Inflammatory Bowel disease than other  
colitis patients  
 
Version: 0 Date: 22 Feb 2020  
 
Reviewer: Wael El -Rifai  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In this study, the authors aimed to determine the prevalence of colorectal polyps in a 
predominantly African American population with IBD and Non -IBD/Non -Infectious  Colitis 
(NIC). The authors performed a retrospective evaluation of medical records of 1,060 patients 
previously identified with colitis at Howard University Hospital, based on ICD -10 code. Of the 
485 patients, 415 were NIC and 70 were IBD. Seventy -three p ercent of the NIC  
patients and 81% of the IBD patients were African Americans. IBD patients were younger than 
NIC patients and the prevalence of all types of polyps was higher in IBD than NIC groups. 
Analysis of the anatomic distribution of lesions and col itis shows that polyps occur 
predominantly in the colitis field regardless of colitis type. OF note, most polyps were present in 
the Ulcerative Colitis patients when compared to Crohn's Disease patients within the IBD group. 
The study indicates that inflam matory polyps are more common in IBD patients when compared 
to NIC patients. This is one of few studies in African American patients. There are few minor 
concerns that need to be addressed.  
 
- The authors need to expand the statistical analysis methods.  
- It will be important to expand discussion on similar studies in African American and 
other minority populations such as Hispanics and Asian. This will increase the significance of 
the findings.  
- Do the authors have some prognostic information for this co hort?  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional  statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary f rom an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?   
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I  declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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