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Frequency of Celiac Disease in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Insights From a Tertiary Care Hospital
Muhammad Usman Tufail Warraich1, Muhammad Nabeel Shafqat2,3, Usman Ajmal3
1Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, GBR.
Insights
Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a higher prevalence of celiac disease (CD). Routine screening for CD in IBS patients is recommended due to a significant association between IBS duration and CD prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- The co-occurrence of celiac disease (CD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is frequently observed, yet evidence regarding prevalence and screening recommendations remains controversial.
- Existing studies present conflicting data on the necessity of routine CD screening in IBS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) among individuals diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at a tertiary care hospital.
Main Methods:
- A one-year cross-sectional study involving 260 patients meeting specific inclusion/exclusion criteria at DHQ Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, Pakistan.
- Diagnosis of probable celiac disease (PCD) was based on positive anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) IgA and IgG antibody levels.
- Statistical analysis included the chi-squared test, with a significance level of p≤0.05.
Main Results:
- Out of 260 IBS patients, 39 (15%) were diagnosed with CD.
- The mean age of participants was 49.4±18.5 years, with 64.6% males and 35.4% females.
- A statistically significant association (p<0.001) was found between the duration of IBS and the prevalence of CD.
Conclusions:
- Patients with IBS exhibit a higher susceptibility to developing CD compared to the general population, regardless of age or gender.
- Routine screening for CD using serologic markers in all IBS patients is recommended to detect latent or potential cases.
Background:
Many published studies have shown that the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) is higher in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the current available evidence is controversial. Moreover, controversy exists regarding the routine screening of CD in IBS patients, as the available results show conflicting evidence. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CD in individuals with IBS presenting at a tertiary care hospital.
Methodology:
This one-year cross-sectional study was performed at District Headquarters (DHQ) Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, Pakistan, between January 2019 and January 2020. A total of 260 persons, who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were selected through a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Patients having positive anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) IgA and IgG antibodies were diagnosed as having probable celiac disease (PCD). Data were collected and compiled using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Post-stratification, the chi-squared test was applied, taking p≤0.05 as significant.
Results:
The mean age of the patients was 49.4±18.5 years. Gender distribution showed that 168 (64.6%) were males, while 92 (35.4%) were females. Among 260 patients, 39 (15%) were diagnosed with CD. Duration of IBS is associated with increased prevalence of CD, and this association is statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with IBS, irrespective of age and gender, are more susceptible to develop CD compared to the general population. Based on these findings, we recommend routine screening for CD with serologic markers in all IBS patients to identify individuals with latent or potential CD.
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