Screening for celiac disease in Danish adults

Abstract

Objective. The prevalence of celiac disease (CD) as recorded in the Danish National Patient Registry is ∼50/100,000 persons. This is much lower than the reported prevalence of CD in other Nordic countries and underdiagnosis is suspected. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of CD in a population-based study of Danish adults. Methods. A total of 2297 adults aged 24–76 years living in the southwestern part of Copenhagen were screened for CD by immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibodies to transglutaminases and deamidated gliadin. IgA/IgG-positive participants were invited to a clinical evaluation, including biopsies, by a gastroenterologist. Results. Of the invited 56 participants, 40 underwent a full clinical evaluation and 8 persons were diagnosed with CD; 2 of the 16 persons, who did not complete the clinical evaluation, were considered by experts to have probable CD. None of the above 56 participants had a known history of CD or a recorded diagnosis of CD in National Patient Registry. By combining cases of biopsy-proven CD (n = 8), probable CD (n = 2), and registry-recorded CD (n = 1), the prevalence of CD was estimated to be 479/100,000 (11/2297) persons (95% CI: 197–761). Conclusion. In this general adult population, the prevalence of CD as estimated by screening and clinical evaluation was 10 times higher than the registry-based prevalence of CD. Of 11 participants diagnosed with CD in our screening study, 10 were unaware of the diagnosis prior to the study. Thus, our study suggests that CD is markedly underdiagnosed in Danish adults.

The distribution of HLA DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes and their association with health indicators in a general Danish population

“…The screening for CD has been described elsewhere. 15,17 A total of 3405 participants were eligible for invitation and 2308 individuals (54.2% female) were re-examined. The mean age at the five-year-follow-up examination was 55.7 years (range: 24-76 years).…”

“…[12][13][14] We have conducted a screening for CD in a general Danish population. 15 In a further analysis of this cohort we aimed to map the distribution of HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8 haplotypes and examine their association with CD and other diseases, symptoms and biomarkers.…”

Increased prevalence of celiac disease in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

“…A population‐based study of CD in northern Sweden found a prevalence of 0.53%, and a study in Denmark supports earlier evidence, indicating a similar prevalence in the Scandinavian countries (Horwitz et al., 2015; Ivarsson et al., 1999; Sjoberg & Eriksson, 1999). More extensive screening methods point to a prevalence in many western countries approaching 1% (Green & Cellier, 2007).…”

Abdominal Adiposity Distribution Quantified by Ultrasound Imaging and Incident Hypertension in a General Population

“…Participants were further invited for a follow-up examination 5 years later, where parts of the baseline study examination were repeated. 24,25 Eligible criteria for our study were a full set of blood pressure (BP) measurements, data about use of antihypertensive medication, and baseline ultrasound measurements of SAT and VAT. Exclusion criteria were prevalent CVD at baseline.…”