Work

Long‐term health and treatment outcomes in adult coeliac disease patients diagnosed by screening in childhood

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The diagnostic yield of coeliac disease could be improved by screening in at-risk groups, but long-term benefits of this approach are obscure. OBJECTIVE: To investigate health, quality of life and dietary adherence in adult coeliac patients diagnosed in childhood by screening. METHODS: After thorough evaluation of medical history, follow-up questionnaires were sent to 559 adults with a childhood coeliac disease diagnosis. The results were compared between screen-detected and clinically-detected patients, and also between originally asymptomatic and symptomatic screen-detected patients. RESULTS: = 48) had coeliac disease in the family and type 1 diabetes more often, and were less often smokers and members of coeliac societies compared to clinically-detected patients, whereas the groups did not differ in current self-experienced health or health concerns, quality of life or dietary adherence. Screen-detected, originally asymptomatic patients had more anxiety than those presenting with symptoms, whereas the subgroups were comparable in other current characteristics. CONCLUSION: Comparable long-term outcomes between screen-detected and clinically-detected patients support risk-group screening for coeliac disease. However, asymptomatic patients may require special attention.

Source: United European Gastroenterology Journal

DOI: 10.1177/2050640618778386

Authors: Laura Kivelä, Alina Popp, Taina Arvola, Heini Huhtala, Katri Kaukinen, Kalle Kurppa