Delayed celiac disease diagnosis predisposes to reduced quality of life and incremental use of health care services and medicines: A prospective nationwide study.

BackgroundCeliac disease is challenging to recognize, predisposing to long diagnostic delay. Currently, associated factors and significance of the delay remain obscure.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to investigate associated sociodemographic risk factors and health consequences of diagnostic delay in celiac disease.MethodsAltogether 611 patients were surveyed at diagnosis and after one year on a gluten-free diet regarding sociodemographic variables, well-being and use of medicines and health care services. Quality of life was measured by a validated Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) questionnaire. The results were compared between patients with and without delayed (≥3 years) diagnosis.ResultsA total of 332 (54%) individuals reported a delay of ≥3 years. Associated with the delay were being a student or homemaker, but not gender, marital or occupational status, site of diagnosis or place of residence. Patients with the delay also had decreased self-perceived health and poorer PGWB scores compared to those without delay; in anxiety and general health this was seen even on a gluten-free diet. Days of sickness and doctor visits as well as use of drugs for dyspepsia and antidepressants were increased in the delay group both before and after diagnosis.ConclusionA delay in celiac disease diagnosis predisposes to reduced well-being and incremental use of medicines and health care services, both before diagnosis and one year after diagnosis.