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The incidence of coeliac disease in children in Switzerland
Insights
This study found a symptomatic coeliac disease incidence of 1:1165 in children born between 1966-1975 in Northeastern Switzerland. The diagnosis was confirmed via clinical assessment and intestinal biopsy, showing no significant trends during the study period.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Coeliac disease diagnosis in children requires reliable data.
- Previous data collection methods had limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of symptomatic coeliac disease in a specific pediatric population.
- To analyze trends in coeliac disease diagnosis over a defined period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric hospital and clinic records in Northeastern Switzerland.
- Inclusion of cases diagnosed between 1966-1975 with clinical and biopsy confirmation.
- Exclusion of unreliable data from before 1966 and after 1975.
Main Results:
- 354 confirmed cases of coeliac disease identified.
- An incidence rate of 1:1165 for symptomatic coeliac disease was calculated.
- Statistical analysis indicated no significant trends in incidence during the study years.
Conclusions:
- Symptomatic coeliac disease had a consistent incidence in Northeastern Switzerland during 1966-1975.
- The study provides a reliable epidemiological baseline for pediatric coeliac disease in the region.
Abstract:
In the pediatric hospitals and clinics of Zurich, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Aarau and Lucerne, 488 cases of coeliac disease have been found in children born between 1960 and 1978. The diagnosis was established clinically and confirmed by intestinal biopsy in each case. The data of coeliac patients diagnosed before 1966 and after 1975 has proven to be unreliable for statistical evaluation and were omitted from our calculations. During the years 1966-1975, 354 patients with confirmed coeliac disease and 412733 live births were registered. This corresponds, for the symptomatic coeliac disease, to an incidence of 1:1165 in the Northeastern part of Switzerland. A statistical analysis of the data confirmed its validity and the lack of trends during the period of study.