Epidemiology of Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the small bowel that is triggered by exposure to dietary gluten. In paediatric, CD commonly presents with intestinal manifestations, while in adults, many present with more subtle symptoms and extraintestinal manifestations, such as anaemia, fatigue, dermatitis, and headaches. The main scope of this chapter is to explore and present the prevalence of CD worldwide as well as trends in diagnosis over recent years. The prevalence of CD is approximately 0.5–1% in different regions of the world. However, exact prevalence rates may vary substantially in specific populations. Although CD was formerly believed to affect solely individuals of European ancestry, more recent studies indicate that the disease may have been either under-reported or undiagnosed in other populations. Moreover, it is possible that the increasing popularity of Western dietary practices may have an impact on the recent trend of increased rates of CD in non-Western populations. Certain population groups are also at high risk of developing CD, including first- or second-degree relatives of individuals with CD and those with diabetes or autoimmune disorders. Serological screening and HLA typing are therefore highly recommended for asymptomatic children in whom such risk factors are present.