Coeliac disease increases heart disease risk

Tuesday, 01 March 2011 09:05

A large population-based study conducted in Sweden has investigated the risk of developing ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in adults with coeliac disease, intestinal inflammation and latent coeliac disease. Results showed coeliac disease, and intestinal inflammation without villous atrophy were both associated with an increased risk of death from IHD, 22% and 32% respectively.

The study population comprised 28,190 patients with coeliac disease, 12,598 with intestinal inflammation without coeliac disease and 3,658 with latent coeliac disease (normal mucosa with positive coeliac disease serology).

In patients with latent coeliac disease there did not appear to be an increased risk of myocardial infarction or death from IHD.

The authors suggest cli­ni­cal guidelines for the treatment of coeliac disease may need to include a more detailed cardiovas­cular risk assessment.

Reference: Ludvigsson et al. 2011. Circulation. Vol. 123. pp. 483-490.