Studies of coeliac disease in children

A multi-national group of researchers have used information held in The New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study, plus parental questionnaires, to determine the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed coeliac disease and gluten avoidance in New Zealand children. Among children without diagnosed coeliac disease, the study authors also sought to identify independent predictors of gluten avoidance.

In addition to the information on participants' demographic, pregnancy-related and neonatal factors obtained from the cohort study, parents were questioned regarding their child's history of lactose intolerance and gluten-related issues such as gluten avoidance, history of wheat or gluten allergy in first degree relatives, testing and doctor diagnosis.

Of the 918 children in the study, 1% were found to have doctor-diagnosed coeliac disease, while just over 5% avoided gluten. Among children without diagnosed coeliac disease, significant independent predictors for gluten avoidance were Christchurch site, prior testing for coeliac disease, and doctor-diagnosed lactose intolerance.

In another recent study looking at coeliac disease in children, researchers in Sweden have compared the health-related quality-of-life of over 10,000 12-year-olds with screening-detected coeliac disease before they learned of their diagnosis, with that of children without coeliac disease and in those previously diagnosed with coeliac disease.

The health-related quality-of-life reported by children with screening-detected coeliac disease, before they learned of their diagnosis was not worse than that of the children without coeliac disease or those previously diagnosed with coeliac disease. Based on these findings, the authors conclude mass screening for diagnosed should not be justified on the basis that children with unrecognised diagnosed have a poor health-related quality-of-life.

Reference: Tanpowpong et al. 2011. Archives of Disease in Childhood. DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2011-300248.

Reference: Nordyke et al. 2011. Journal of Medical Screening. DOI: 10.1258/jms.2011.011081