The association between coeliac disease and cardiovascular disease

L Wei1, E Spiers, N Reynolds

  • 1Medicines Monitoring Unit, Division of Medicine and Therapeutics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.

Insights

Coeliac disease patients show a higher risk of cardiovascular events. This study suggests a link between coeliac disease and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coeliac disease prevalence is higher than previously recognized.
  • The relationship between coeliac disease and cardiovascular health is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if individuals with coeliac disease face an elevated risk of cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • A community-based cohort study utilized a record-linkage database.
  • Included 367 coeliac patients (positive antibody test or biopsy) and 5537 controls (negative coeliac immunology).

Main Results:

  • Coeliac patients had an adjusted relative risk of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.00-3.60) for cardiovascular events.
  • Excluding prior cardiovascular disease hospitalizations, the adjusted relative risk increased to 2.5 (95% CI: 1.22-5.01).

Conclusions:

  • Coeliac disease appears to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes.
Abstract

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