Optimal Frequency to Screen Celiac Disease amongst Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Multicenter Study

Aims: Celiac disease (CD) is frequent amongst patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Since there is a disagreement on the optimal interval and frequency to perform screening tests for CD among diabetic patients, this study aimed to evaluate these issues amongst patients with T1DM. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in seven referral diabetic centers in different cities of Iran from January 2020 to January 2021. Data belonging to 106 patients who were affected by both T1DM and CD was collected. The time interval between CD diagnosis and diabetes (IBCD), the age of diabetes onset, and any associated diseases, symptoms, and family history of T1DM and CD were recorded and analyzed. Results: Results show that 45% of the patients with CD were diagnosed during the first year of diabetes onset; furthermore, 18% and 16% of the patients with CD were diagnosed in the second or third year after being diagnosed with diabetes. In addition, another 18% of patients with CD were diagnosed during the fourth till the eighth year after diabetes onset. Moreover, there was a negative relationship between the age of T1DM diagnosis and IBCD. Most participants were asymptomatic at the time of CD diagnosis. Conclusions: Screening tests to detect CD amongst patients with T1DM should continue for at least eight years after the initial T1DM diagnosis, especially those affected at a younger age. (c) 2021 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the optimal interval and frequency of screening tests for CD among patients with T1DM. Results showed that CD was diagnosed at different stages after the onset of diabetes. It was concluded that screening tests for CD should continue for at least eight years, especially for patients affected at a younger age.