Impact of the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

Impact of the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the diagnosis of celiac disease on general health, healthcare resource utilization, quality of life and lifestyle. We hypothesize that diagnosis and subsequent dietary treatment may have positive impact on these variables.

All new members with biopsy-proven celiac disease joining the Finnish Celiac Society will be categorized in three groups according to symptoms and signs leading to the diagnosis as classical symptoms, extraintestinal symptoms and screen-detected, the latest being further divided to those presenting with symptoms and those who are totally asymptomatic. Several parameters assessing general health and well-being, quality of life and healthcare resource utilization are evaluated at baseline and after one and five years on trial. Quality of life is compared to that of non-celiac controls.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis within one year
• biopsy-proven diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Celiac disease diagnosis previously than within one year
• No biopsy-proven diagnosis