Celiac disease affects 1% of global population – who will manage all these patients? What are criteria to prioritize along risk for complications?

Abstract

Celiac disease is a common gastrointestinal condition with an estimated global prevalence of up to 1%. Adequate long-term surveillance of patients is imperative to ensure strict adherence to the treatment with a gluten-free diet and the ensuing clinical and histological recovery. Traditionally this has been accomplished by regular on-site attendance at specialist healthcare facilities, accompanied for most patients by follow-up endoscopic and laboratory tests. However, the rapidly increasing prevalence of celiac disease and the limited healthcare resources challenge the current centralized and non-individualized follow-up strategies. The improved non-invasive surveillance tools and online healthcare services are further changing the landscape of celiac disease management. There is a clear need for more personalized and on-demand follow-up based on early treatment response and patient-related factors associated with long-term prognosis. Additional scientific evidence on the optimal implementation of follow-up for pediatric and adulthood celiac disease is nevertheless called for.