Use of health care services and pharmaceutical agents in coeliac disease: a prospective nationwide study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Approximately 1% of the population suffer from coeliac disease. However, the disease is heavily underdiagnosed. Unexplained symptoms may lead to incremented medical consultations and productivity losses. The aim here was to estimate the possible concealed burden of untreated coeliac disease and the effects of a gluten-free diet.

Methods

A nationwide cohort of 700 newly detected adult coeliac patients were prospectively evaluated. Health care service use and sickness absence from work during the year before diagnosis were compared with those in the general population; the data obtained from an earlier study. Additionally, the effect of one year on dietary treatment on the aforementioned parameters and on consumption of pharmaceutical agents was assessed.

Results

SUBMITTER: Ukkola A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3503835 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature