Naslov
Diagnostic delays in children with coeliac disease in the central european region

Autori
Riznik P, De Leo L, Dolinsek J, Gyimesi J, Klemenak M, Koletzko B, Koletzko S, Korponay- Szabó IR, Krencnik T, Not T, Palcevski G, Sblattero D, Vogrincic M, Werkstetter KJ, Dolinsek J

Izvornik
Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition (0277-2116) 69 (2019), 4; 443-448

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Central Europe ; children ; coeliac disease ; diagnostic delays

Sažetak
Objectives: Coeliac disease (CD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting about 1% of the population. Many patients remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed with substantial delay. We assessed diagnostic delays in symptomatic CD children in Central Europe (CE). Methods: Paediatric gastroenterologists in 5 CE countries retrospectively reported data of their patients diagnosed in 2016. Age at first CD-related symptom(s), first visit to paediatric gastroenterologist and confirmed diagnosis were used to determine diagnostic delays. Results: Data from 393 children (65% girls, median age 7 years, range 7 months to 18.5 years) from Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia were analysed. Median duration from first symptom(s) to visit to paediatric gastroenterologist was 5 months (range 0-10 years ; preschool 4 months, school- aged 5 months), and further duration until final diagnosis was 1 month (range 0-5 years) with significant regional differences (P < 0.001). Median diagnostic delay was 6 months (range 0-10 years ; preschool 5 months, school- aged 7 months). Type of clinical presentation had little, however, significant effect on delays. Reduced body mass in delays longer than 3 years compared with delays shorter than 1 year was found (z score -0.93 vs -0.39, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Time from first symptoms to CD diagnosis in children in 5 CE countries is slightly shorter compared with few other small paediatric studies, and significantly shorter than reported for adults. Nevertheless, delays of more than 3 years in 6.6% of children are worrisome. Raising awareness about the variable symptoms and implementation of reliable diagnostic tools will further reduce diagnostic delays.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA