Retrospective Cohort Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2021; 27(20): 2603-2614
Published online May 28, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i20.2603
Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients at diagnosis, by country
All patients (n = 300)
United Kingdom patients (n = 100)
United States patients (n = 100)
Norway patients (n = 100)

n (%)
n (%)
n (%)
n (%)
Age at diagnosis1
mean (SD)38.9 (17.2)42.4 (16.9)39.1 (14.6)33.1 (18.6)
Median (IQR)36 (25.0-50.0)41 (29.0-55.5)38.5 (26.5-49.0)31 (21.0-46.0)
Sex
Male84 (28.0)29 (29.0)24 (24.0)31 (31.0)
Race/Ethnicity
White/Caucasian287 (95.7)94 (94.0)96 (96.0)97 (97.0)
Black/African-American/Caribbean2 (0.7)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)
Hispanic/Latino2 (0.7)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)0 (0.0)
Asian6 (2.0)4 (4.0)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)
Other1 (0.3)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Unknown2 (0.7)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)0 (0.0)
Confirmation of diagnosis
Biopsy and serology272 (90.7)99 (99.0)91 (91.0)82 (82.0)
Biopsy only28 (9.3)1 (1.0)9 (9.0)18 (18.0)
Reason for diagnosis2
Gastrointestinal symptoms231 (77.0)70 (70.0)80 (80.0)81 (81.0)
Extraintestinal manifestations391 (30.3)57 (57.0)17 (17.0)17 (17.0)
Family history of celiac disease56 (18.7)15 (15.0)18 (18.0)23 (23.0)
Screening for associated disorders26 (8.7)5 (5.0)6 (6.0)15 (15.0)
Family history of autoimmune disorders13 (4.3)0 (0.0)3 (3.0)10 (10.0)
Procedures performed for celiac disease-related symptoms
EGD299 (99.7)100 (100.0)99 (99.0)100 (100.0)
Bone densitometry76 (25.3)58 (58.0)9 (9.0)9 (9.0)
Colonoscopy48 (16.0)11 (11.0)33 (33.0)4 (4.0)
Abdominal imaging9 (3.0)2 (2.0)4 (4.0)3 (3.0)
Enteroscopy2 (0.7)1 (1.0)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)
Capsule endoscopy1 (0.3)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Other15 (5.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)10 (10.0)
None0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Biopsy results
Normal0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes2 (0.7)1 (1.0)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)
Mild/partial villous atrophy77 (25.7)22 (22.0)36 (36.0)19 (19.0)
Subtotal villous atrophy115 (38.3)31 (31.0)40 (40.0)44 (44.0)
Total/complete villous atrophy103 (34.3)46 (46.0)22 (22.0)35 (35.0)
Other3 (1.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)
Table 2 Presentation of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations at diagnosis and at follow-up visits, by country

All patients (n = 300)
United Kingdom patients (n = 100)
United States patients (n = 100)
Norway patients (n = 100)
At diagnosis, n (%)
At follow-up1, n (%)
At diagnosis, n (%)
At follow-up1, n (%)
At diagnosis, n (%)
At follow-up1, n (%)
At diagnosis, n (%)
At follow-up1, n (%)
Gastrointestinal manifestations2
None344 (14.7)191 (63.7)26 (26.0)69 (69.0)10 (10.0)56 (56.0)8 (8.0)66 (66.0)
Diarrhea147 (49.0)100 (33.3)44 (44.0)35 (35.0)54 (54.0)45 (45.0)49 (49.0)20 (20.0)
Abdominal pain124 (41.3)93 (31.0)26 (26.0)23 (23.0)46 (46.0)45 (45.0)52 (52.0)25 (25.0)
Abdominal distension12 (4.0)11 (3.7)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)7 (7.0)9 (9.0)5 (5.0)2 (2.0)
Poor appetite5 (1.7)6 (2.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)3 (3.0)
Constipation38 (12.7)47 (15.7)6 (6.0)6 (6.0)15 (15.0)29 (29.0)17 (17.0)12 (12.0)
Weight loss6 (2.0)33 (11.0)0 (0.0)6 (6.0)5 (5.0)17 (17.0)1 (1.0)10 (10.0)
Weight gain44 (14.7)27 (9.0)10 (10.0)0 (0.0)25 (25.0)24 (24.0)9 (9.0)3 (3.0)
Malabsorption1 (0.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)
Bloating90 (30.0)76 (25.3)26 (26.0)26 (26.0)31 (31.0)31 (31.0)33 (33.0)19 (19.0)
Hard stools4 (1.3)6 (2.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)4 (4.0)4 (4.0)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)
Mouth ulcers3 (1.0)2 (0.7)2 (2.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)1 (1.0)1 (1.0)
Extraintestinal manifestations2
None372 (24.0)153 (51.0)37 (37.0)71 (71.0)24 (24.0)38 (38.0)11 (11.0)44 (44.0)
Brain fog11 (3.7)10 (3.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)10 (10.0)10 (10.0)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)
Nutritional deficiency104 (34.7)108 (36.0)27 (27.0)27 (27.0)34 (34.0)59 (59.0)43 (43.0)22 (22.0)
Osteoporosis/osteopenia21 (7.0)54 (18.0)5 (5.0)16 (16.0)11 (11.0)26 (26.0)5 (5.0)12 (12.0)
Anemia52 (17.3)41 (13.7)29 (29.0)19 (19.0)22 (22.0)20 (20.0)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)
Malignancy2 (0.7)5 (1.7)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)
Cardiovascular disease8 (2.7)10 (3.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)7 (7.0)8 (8.0)
Infertility4 (1.3)5 (1.7)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)4 (4.0)3 (3.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Depression11 (3.7)12 (4.0)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)8 (8.0)8 (8.0)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)
Anxiety8 (2.7)9 (3.0)1 (1.0)0 (0.0)4 (4.0)8 (8.0)3 (3.0)1 (1.0)
Headaches11 (3.7)21 (7.0)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)7 (7.0)15 (15.0)2 (2.0)4 (4.0)
Neuropathy3 (1.0)4 (1.3)0 (0.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)2 (2.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Autoimmune disease34 (11.3)38 (12.7)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)14 (14.0)16 (16.0)18 (18.0)20 (20.0)
Skin and dental conditions7 (2.3)7 (2.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)3 (3.0)4 (4.0)4 (4.0)3 (3.0)
Hair loss5 (1.7)2 (0.7)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)3 (3.0)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)0 (0.0)
Liver abnormalities46 (2.0)11 (3.7)1 (1.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)6 (6.0)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)
Musculoskeletal symptoms 28 (9.3)38 (12.7)5 (5.0)7 (7.0)9 (9.0)11 (11.0)14 (14.0)20 (20.0)
Table 3 Descriptive characteristics of follow-up visits and endoscopies during the follow-up period, overall and by country


Overall
United Kingdom
United States
Norway
Length of follow-up time1 (mo)Mean (SD)29.9 (22.1)26.5 (20.9)38.7 (22.8)24.5 (20.1)
Median (IQR)25 (12-47)21 (9-42)39.5 (17-60)16 (12-32.5)
Number of follow-up visits (per patient)Mean (SD)3.0 (2.3)2.7 (2.5)4.0 (2.4)2.3 (1.5)
Median (IQR)2 (1-4)2 (1-3)4 (2-6)2 (1-3)
Number of follow-up visits with biopsy data (per patient)Mean (SD)0.7 (0.8)0.5 (0.7)0.3 (0.5)1.2 (0.9)
Median (IQR)0.5 (0-1)0 (0-1)0 (0-1)1 (1-1.5)
Endoscopy with duodenal biopsy during follow-up
Yesn (%)150 (50.0)42 (42.0)26 (26.0)82 (82.0)
Non (%)150 (50.0)58 (58.0)74 (74.0)18 (18.0)
If ‘Yes’, number of endoscopies with duodenal biopsy during follow-up
1n (%)116 (77.3)37 (88.1)22 (84.6)57 (69.5)
2n (%)22 (14.7)3 (7.1)4 (15.4)15 (18.3)
3n (%)9 (6.0)1 (2.4)0 (0.0)8 (9.8)
> 3n (%)3 (2.0)1 (2.4)0 (0.0)2 (2.4)
Timing of endoscopy with duodenal biopsy during follow-up2
< 12 mon (%)45 (30.0)18 (42.9)3 (11.5)24 (29.3)
12-24 mon (%)63 (42.0)11 (26.2)6 (23.1)46 (56.1)
> 24 mon (%)64 (42.7)19 (45.2)18 (69.2)27 (32.9)