Perceived health status in celiac disease.
BACKGROUND
Chronic conditions modify perceived health in affected individuals. For this reason celiac disease, being a chronic condition, may impair health-related quality of life (HRQOL).


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the impact of celiac disease in affected individuals.


METHODS
Observational, cross-sectional, prospective study in patients with celiac disease by administering two HRQOL questionnaires: EuroQol-5D and GastroIntestinal Quality of Life (GIQLI).


RESULTS
54 stable patients on a gluten-free diet for a median 60 months, and 9 newly diagnosed individuals still on their usual diet were included. Overall GIQLI score was significantly higher, meaning a better HRQOL, in treated celiac patients versus pre-treated celiac patients (3.1 [2.7-3.5] vs. 2.4 [2.1-2.6], p < 0.01). Similarly, EuroQol s health status preference value was also significantly better in treated patients (0.87[0.8-1.0] vs. 0.7 [0.5-0.8], p < 0.01). EuroQol s visual analogic scale had also better scores, representing a better perceived health, among treated patients (80.0 [70.0-90.0] vs. 65.0 [40.0-71.0], p < 0.05). In comparison to EuroQol-5D scores among the healthy Spanish population, values obtained for celiac patients under treatment are similar to those seen in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
celiac disease impairs perceived health in affected individuals, which improves and reaches results similar to those in the general population when on a gluten-free diet.
Casellas
F
F
Service of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. fcasellas@vhebron.net
López Vivancos
J
J
Malagelada
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires