Celiac Disease Associated with Elevated All-Cause Mortality Risk

Studies suggesting an increased risk for death in celiac disease predate the last decade, during which time prevalence increased and access to gluten-free foods improved. Using more-recent data from Swedish population-based registries, researchers examined risk for all-cause mortality in residents with biopsy-proven celiac disease compared with matched controls from the general population.

Data were analyzed from nearly 50,000 patients with a median follow-up of 12.5 years. In multivariate analysis, patients with celiac disease had a 21% higher risk for death from all causes than controls (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.17–1.25). Those aged 18 and 39 at time of celiac disease diagnosis had the greatest relative increase in risk (aHR,…