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Twenty years of childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands: a rapidly increasing incidence?
E K George1, M L Mearin, H C Franken
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Insights
The incidence of childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands has significantly increased, with a rate of 0.54 per 1000 live births. Clinical presentation remains consistent, with associated disorders noted in over 11% of cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Coeliac disease incidence varies globally.
- Understanding childhood coeliac disease trends is crucial for public health.
- Previous data from 1975-1990 indicated a lower incidence in The Netherlands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands.
- To analyze the clinical manifestations of childhood coeliac disease.
- To identify associated disorders in pediatric coeliac disease patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit to identify cases from 1993-1994.
- Inclusion criteria: born in The Netherlands, diagnosed via small bowel biopsy between 0-14 years old.
- Cross-checked data with the Dutch Network and National Database of Pathology; compared with historical data (1975-1990).
Main Results:
- Identified 193 cases via Surveillance Unit and 20 via Pathology Database.
- Mean crude incidence rate was 0.54 per 1000 live births, significantly higher than the 1975-1990 rate (0.18/1000).
- Classic symptoms (diarrhea, distension, growth failure) were observed; 11.7% had associated disorders.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of diagnosed childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands has significantly risen.
- No substantial changes in the clinical presentation of coeliac disease in Dutch children over 20 years were observed.
Background:
The incidence of coeliac disease varies internationally.
Aims:
To assess the incidence of childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands and to study the clinical features and the presence of associated disorders.
Subjects:
Identified cases of childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands in 1993-4 by means of the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit.
Methods:
Inclusion criteria were born in The Netherlands, diagnosed with at least one biopsy of the small bowel in 1993-4 and age at diagnosis 0-14 years. The data were cross checked by the Dutch Network and National Database of Pathology and compared with data from a previous study on childhood coeliac disease, 1975-90.
Results:
A total of 193 coeliac patients were identified by means of the Surveillance Unit, another 20 through the National Database of Pathology. The mean crude incidence rate of diagnosed childhood coeliac disease was 0.54/1000 live births, which is in the range of rates found in other western European countries and significantly higher than the mean crude incidence rate of 0.18/1000 live births found in The Netherlands in 1975-90. The clinical presentation was classic: chronic diarrhoea, abdominal distension, and growth failure. Associated disorders were present in 11.7% of the cases.
Conclusions:
The incidence of diagnosed childhood coeliac disease in The Netherlands seems to have increased significantly during the past few years. In a period of 20 years no significant changes could be found in the clinical picture at preentation of coeliac disease in Dutch children.
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