The impact of symptoms on quality of life before and after diagnosis of coeliac disease: the results from a Polish population survey and comparison with the results from the United Kingdom

Abstract Background Coeliac disease (CD) is characterised by diverse clinical symptoms, which may cause diagnostic problems and reduce the patients’ quality of life. A study conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that the mean time between the onset of coeliac symptoms and being diagnosed was above 13 years. This study aimed to analyse the diagnostic process of CD in Poland and evaluate the quality of life of patients before and after CD diagnosis. In addition, results were compared to the results of the original study conducted in the UK. Methods The study included 2500 members of the Polish Coeliac Society. The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire containing questions on socio-demographic factors, clinical aspects and quality of life, using the EQ-5D questionnaire. Questionnaires received from 796 respondents were included in the final analysis. Results The most common symptoms reported by respondents were bloating (75%), abdominal pain (72%), chronic fatigue (63%) and anaemia (58%). Anaemia was the most persistent symptom, with mean duration prior to CD diagnosis of 9.2 years, whereas diarrhoea was observed for the shortest period (4.7 years). The mean duration of any symptom before CD diagnosis was 7.3 years, compared to 13.2 years in the UK. CD diagnosis and the introduction of a gluten-free diet substantially improved the quality of life in each of the five EQ-5D-5L health dimensions: pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, usual activities, self-care and mobility (p < 0.001), the EQ-Index by 0.149 (SD 0.23) and the EQ-VAS by 30.4 (SD 28.3) points. Conclusions Duration of symptoms prior to the diagnosis of CD in Poland, although shorter than in the UK, was long with an average of 7.3 years from first CD symptoms. Faster CD diagnosis after the onset of symptoms in Polish respondents may be related to a higher percentage of children in the Polish sample. Introduction of a gluten-free diet improves coeliac patients’ quality of life. These results suggest that doctors should be made more aware of CD and its symptoms across all age groups.

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Coeliac disease and the gluten-free diet: a review of the burdens; factors associated with adherence and impact on health-related quality of life, with specific focus on adolescence

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1111/jhn.12375 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 593-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

L. E. White ◽

E. Bannerman ◽

P. M. Gillett

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Coeliac Disease ◽

Gluten Free Diet ◽

Gluten Free ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Specific Focus ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Effectiveness of nutritional supplementation for children with coeliac disease who are on a gluten-free diet

Medical Council ◽

10.21518/2079-701x-2019-17-138-146 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 138-146

Author(s):

V. A. Kur’yaninova ◽

M. V. Stoyan ◽

I. N. Zakharova ◽

L. Ya. Klimov ◽

V. S. Kashnikov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Coeliac Disease ◽

Physical Development ◽

Nutritional Supplementation ◽

Gluten Free Diet ◽

Gluten Free ◽

Nutrient Deficiencies ◽

Quality Of Life Indicators ◽

Enteric Nutrition

Patients on a gluten-free diet are at risk of developing polyhypoavitaminosis and deficiency states, which requires the supplementation of their diet to prevent nutrient deficiencies. The aim of the study: to analyze the dynamics of anthropometric and laboratory parameters, components of the quality of life in children with coeliac disease on the background of a month-long course of administration of hypercaloric mixture for enteric nutrition. Materials and methods: 45 children with coeliac disease aged 2-10 years (mean age 6.3 ± 0.3 years) on a strict gluten-free diet for more than one year. All patients received additional enteric nutrition with a hypercaloric mixture in the volume of 200 ml/day (300 kcal/day) for 1 month as a supplement to the main food ration. Two groups of patients receiving the supplement in 2012-2013 and 2017-2018 were identified. Physical development was assessed under the WHO AnthroPlus programme. The quality of life indicators were assessed using the PedQL 4.0 questionnaire. Results: the total frequency of protein-сalorie deficiency (PCD) before the course of nutritional supplementation was 13 (28.9%) cases, while acute PCD was diagnosed in 6 (13.3%) and chronic PCD in 7 (15.6%) patients. Against the background of the course of nutritious supplementation in children with coeliac disease, there was a significant reduction in weight, height and BMI in both groups. Patients in 2012-2013 initially had a greater gap in weight and height compared to children in 2017-2018. There was an improvement in the sum of the quality of life indicators by 6.3% for children in the first group and by 4.3% for children in the second group against the background of nutritional supplementation. Conclusions: Enrichment of children’s diets with a hypercaloric blend of dietary fiber helps to accelerate the pace of physical development, reduce the number of children with diabetes mellitus, improve hemogram rates and most components of quality of life.

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Evaluation of Gluten-Free Diet Efficacy for Improving Quality of Life of Patients with Celiac Disease

Jundishapur Journal of Chronic Disease Care ◽

10.5812/jjcdc.108276 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol In Press (In Press) ◽

Author(s):

Pezhman Alavinejad ◽

Yosra Shafiolleh Talokdar ◽

Zahra Shokati Ashkiki

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Celiac Disease ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Gluten Free Diet ◽

Gluten Free ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Khuzestan Province ◽

Before And After ◽

One Year

Background: As the only effective treatment of celiac disease (CD) is a lifelong commitment to a gluten-free diet (GFD), this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of GFD in the quality of life (QOL) of patients with CD to persuade them for strict commitment. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the QOL of CD patients registered in the celiac society of Khuzestan province was evaluated and compared before and at least one year after commencing GFD using the QOL SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Overall, 200 CD patients (66 males and 134 females) were evaluated. The average age of male and female participants was 26.3 and 30.34 years, respectively (61% between 20 and 60-years-old). After GFD, complaints such as bloating (P = 0.001), abdominal pain (P = 0.001), diarrhea (P = 0.001), nausea (P = 0.001), vomiting (P = 0.03), reflux and regurgitation (P = 0.025), anorexia (P = 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.001), headache (P = 0.008), oral aphthous lesions (P = 0.014), weight loss (P = 0.001), and bone pain (P = 0.005) significantly improved while other symptoms such as muscular pain (P = 0.157), dermatitis (P = 0.083), and numbness (P = 0.317) did not show any major improvement. The average scores of QOL before and after GFD were 0.74 and 3.41, respectively, which demonstrated significant improvement (P = 0.001). This improvement was even seen among cases with sub-optimal compliance (average QOL score 3.28, P = 0.001). Conclusion: A gluten-free diet could significantly improve the quality of life of patients with celiac disease, and they should be encouraged as much as possible to be committed to this regimen.

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