International variation in prevalence of celiac in T1DM

(HealthDay)—Celiac disease (CD) is a common comorbidity in young people with type 1 diabetes, and the prevalence appears to vary internationally, according to a study published online June 29 in Diabetes Care.

Maria E. Craig, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., from the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, and colleagues examined international differences in CD prevalence and characteristics of children with coexisting type 1 diabetes and CD versus type 1 diabetes only. Data were included for 52,721 young people aged <18 years.

The researchers found that 3.5 percent of young people had biopsy-confirmed CD, which was diagnosed at a median age of 8.1 years. The prevalence of CD ranged from 1.9 to 7.7 percent in the U.S. T1D Exchange Clinic Network and Australasian Diabetes Data Networks, respectively; prevalence was higher for girls than boys (4.3 versus 2.7 percent; P < 0.001). Compared to those with type 1 diabetes only, children with coexisting CD were younger at diabetes diagnosis (5.4 versus 7.0 years; P < 0.001) and fewer were non-white (15 versus 18 percent; P < 0.001). Those with CD had lower height standard deviation score (0.36 versus 0.48; adjusted P < 0.001), and fewer were overweight/obese (34 versus 37 percent; adjusted P < 0.001). The mean hemoglobin A1c values were comparable (8.3 ± 1.5 versus 8.4 ± 1.6 percent).

"Differences in CD prevalence may reflect international variation in screening and diagnostic practices, and/or CD risk," the authors write.

One author disclosed holding an equity fund that may contain stock from pharmaceutical companies.