The Canadian Celiac Health Survey

This study comes from the IBS Treatment Center's Research page and the National Institutes of Health.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the diagnostic process, frequency of associated disorders, family history, and impact of a gluten-free diet in individuals with celiac disease.

All members of the Canadian Celiac Association (n=5240) were surveyed with a questionnaire.

Respondents included 2681 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease. The mean age was 56 years.

Most common presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (83%), diarrhea (76%), and weight loss (69%).

The mean delay in diagnosis was 11.7 years. Diagnoses made prior to celiac disease included anemia (40%), stress (31%), and irritable bowel syndrome (29%). Osteoporosis was common.

Prior to diagnosis, 27% of respondents consulted with three or more doctors about their symptoms.

Conclusion

Delays in diagnosis of celiac disease remain a problem. Associated medical conditions occur frequently.

More accurate food labeling is needed. Improved awareness of celiac disease and greater use of serological screening tests may result in earlier diagnosis and reduced risk of associated conditions.

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Cranney A, Zarkadas M, Graham ID, Butzner JD, Rashid M, Warren R, Molloy M,
Case S, Burrows V, Switzer C.

Department of Medicine, Ottawa Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa,
Ottawa, Ontario, and Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.