A UNIQUE PREVALENCE STUDY REFLECTING THE POPULATION OF CATALONIA BY AGE AND SEX SHOWED A MARKEDLY REDUCED PREVALENCE OF COELIAC DISEASE IN ADULTHOOD COMPARED TO CHILDHOOD

Meritxell Mariné (1) , Carme Farré (2) , Montserrat Alsina (3) , Pere Vilar (4) , Montserrat Cortijo (5) , Antonio Salas (6) , Fernando Fernández-Bañares (1) , Mercè Rosinach (1) , Rebeca Santaolalla (1) , Carme Loras (1) , Teresa Marquès (2) , Victòria Cusí (7) , Maria Isabel Hernández (2) , Anna Carrasco (1) , Josepa Ribes (8, 9) , Josep Maria Viver (1) , Maria Esteve (1)

1 Gastroenterology Department
2 Biochemistry Department
3 Immunology Department
4 Paediatric gastroenterology Department
5 Ocupational Health Department
6 Pathology Department
7 Pathology Department
8 Department of Health
9 Department of Clinical Sciences

AIM: To assess whether there are age and sex differences in coeliac disease (CD) prevalence. METHODS: 4230 subjects were consecutively included (1 to ≥ 80-years-old) reproducing the reference population by age and sex. Sample size was calculated assuming a population-based CD prevalence of 1:250. After an interim analysis, the paediatric sample was expanded (2010 children) due to high prevalence in this group. Anti-transglutaminase and antiendomisial antibodies were determined and duodenal biopsy was performed if positive. Log-linear models were fitted to CD prevalence by age allowing calculation of percentage change of prevalence. Differences between groups were compared using Chi-square test. RESULTS: 21 subjects had CD (male/female 1:2.5). CD prevalence in total population was 1:204. CD prevalence was higher in children (1:71) than in adults (1:357) (p=0.00005). A significant decrease of prevalence in older generations was observed [change of prevalence by age of -5.04% (95%CI: -7.58 to -2.42%)]. In the paediatric expanded group (1-14 years), a decrease of CD prevalence was also observed [prevalence change: -16.09 %; (95%CI: -25.02 to -6.10)]. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of CD in childhood was 5 times higher than in adults. Whether this difference is due to environmental factors influencing infancy or latency evolution of CD in adulthood remains to be demonstrated in prospective longitudinal studies.

Mots clés: Medicine

Meritxell Mariné, Carme Farré, Montserrat Alsina, Pere Vilar, Montserrat Cortijo, et al.. A UNIQUE PREVALENCE STUDY REFLECTING THE POPULATION OF CATALONIA BY AGE AND SEX SHOWED A MARKEDLY REDUCED PREVALENCE OF COELIAC DISEASE IN ADULTHOOD COMPARED TO CHILDHOOD. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2010, 33 (4), pp.477. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04543.x⟩. ⟨hal-00601563⟩