Support for patients with celiac disease: A literature review.
BACKGROUND
Celiac disease (CD) is a lifelong disorder. Patients are at increased risk of complications and comorbidity.


OBJECTIVE
We conducted a review of the literature on patient support and information in CD and aim to issue recommendations about patient information with regards to CD.


METHODS



METHODS
We searched PubMed for English-language articles published between 1900 and June 2014, containing terms related to costs, economics of CD, or education and CD.


METHODS
Papers deemed relevant by any of the participating authors were included in the study.


RESULTS
No quantitative synthesis of data was performed. Instead we formulated a consensus view of the information that should be offered to all patients with CD.


RESULTS
There are few randomized clinical trials examining the effect of patient support in CD. Patients and their families receive information from many sources. It is important that health care personnel guide the patient through the plethora of facts and comments on the Internet. An understanding of CD is likely to improve dietary adherence. Patients should be educated about current knowledge about risk factors for CD, as well as the increased risk of complications. Patients should also be advised to avoid other health hazards, such as smoking. Many patients are eager to learn about future non-dietary treatments of CD. This review also comments on novel therapies but it is important to stress that no such treatment is available at present.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on mostly observational data, we suggest that patient support and information should be an integral part of the management of CD, and is likely to affect the outcome of CD.
Department of Pediatrics, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden ; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Jonas F
JF
Ludvigsson
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Tim
T
Card
Division of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, The Rayne Institute London, London, UK.
Paul J
PJ
Ciclitira
Department of Gastroenterology, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK.
Gillian L
GL
Swift
Division of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, The Rayne Institute London, London, UK.
Ikram
I
Nasr
Regional GI and Liver Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
David S
DS
Sanders
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Gastroenterology, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
Carolina
C
Ciacci
Celiac (American spelling); coeliac (British spelling); gluten-free diet; support