Research article

Increasing prevalence and high incidence of celiac disease in elderly people: A population-based study

Anitta Vilppula¹ , Katri Kaukinen^2,3 , Liisa Luostarinen¹ , Ilkka Krekelä⁴ , Heikki Patrikainen⁴ , Raisa Valve⁵ , Markku Mäki⁶ and Pekka Collin^2,3

¹Department of Neurology, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland

²Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

³Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

⁴Department Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland

⁵University of Helsinki, Department of Education and Development in Lahti, Helsinki, Finland

⁶Paediatric Research Centre, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

author email corresponding author email

BMC Gastroenterology 2009, 9:49doi:10.1186/1471-230X-9-49

Published:	29 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Celiac disease may emerge at any age, but little is known of its appearance in elderly people. We evaluated the prevalence of the condition in individuals over 55 years of age, and determined the incidence of biopsy-proven celiac disease (CDb) and celiac disease including seropositive subjects for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (CDb+s).

Methods

The study based on prevalence figures in 2815 randomly selected subjects who had undergone a clinical examination and serologic screening for celiac disease in 2002. A second screening in the same population was carried out in 2005, comprising now 2216 individuals. Positive tissue transglutaminase antibodies were confirmed with small bowel biopsy.

Results

Within three years the prevalence of CDb increased from 2.13 to 2.34%, and that of CDb+s from 2.45 to 2.70%. Five new cases were found among patients previously seronegative; two had minor abdominal symptoms and three were asymptomatic. The incidence of celiac disease in 2002–2005 was 0.23%, giving an annual incidence of 0.08% in this population.

Conclusion

The prevalence of celiac disease was high in elderly people, but the symptoms were subtle. Repeated screening detected five biopsy-proven cases in three years, indicating that the disorder may develop even in the elderly. Increased alertness to the disorder is therefore warranted.