Celiac disease in Chilean adults

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Celiac disease is a complex autoimmune disorder.
• Characterizing patient demographics and clinical presentations is crucial for understanding disease prevalence and management.
• Previous studies have focused on pediatric populations or specific symptom clusters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of adult celiac disease patients at a Chilean university hospital.
• To identify common presenting symptoms, comorbidities, and diagnostic findings in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for adult patients diagnosed with celiac disease.
• Inclusion based on clinical presentation, serology, and histology.
• Data collected included demographics, BMI, presenting symptoms, laboratory results, associated conditions, and histological findings.

Main Results:

• 149 adult patients were analyzed, with a predominance of women (79.9%).
• Mean age at diagnosis was 42 years; common symptoms included diarrhea, dyspepsia, weight loss, and fatigue.
• Associated conditions included hypothyroidism and depressive disorder; 37.9% were overweight or obese.

Conclusions:

• Chilean adult celiac disease patients share similarities with international cohorts, particularly in female predominance and onset in the fourth decade.
• Extraintestinal manifestations and autoimmune comorbidities are common.
• A significant proportion of patients present with overweight or obesity, highlighting the need for comprehensive patient assessment.