[A national online survey applied to patients with celiac disease in Chile]

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Its prevalence in Europe and the USA is 0.5 to 1%.

To analyze epidemiological aspects and degree of compliance with gluten-free diet (GFD) among Chilean individuals with CD.

Subjects with confirmed or suspected CD were invited to answer an online survey published on the web at www.fundacionconvivir.cl. The answers were reinforced with a telephone interview.

The survey was answered by 1212 subjects (79% females). Median age at diagnosis was 25.8 years (range 1 to 84 years), with a bimodal curve with two peaks at less than 3 years and at 20 to 40 years of age. The diagnosis was made only by serologic markers in 9%, only by intestinal biopsy in 17.5%, and by a combination of both methods in 70%o. Conditions associated with CD were reported by 30% > of subjects and 20% > had relatives with CD. The GFD was strictly adhered to by 70% >, occasionally by 27% > and never by 3% >. Seventy five percent of subjects with a strict adherence to GFD had a favorable clinical response compared with 42% > of those with incomplete or lack of adherence (odds ratio 4.0, 95% > confidence intervals 2.8-5.7p < 0.01).

In 30% of respondents, the diagnosis of CD was not confirmed according to international guidelines that require serology and duodenal biopsy. One third of subjects recognized a poor compliance with GFD. Those with a strict adherence to it had a more favorable clinical course. However, 25% > did not experience a clinical improvement despite a strict GFD, a finding which requires further study.