Abstract
Introduction: A high prevalence of depression and anxiety is present in CD patients (pts) and relates to: 1. adhesion to a gluten-free diet, 2. clinical features, and 3. risk of associated autoimmune diseases. Assessment of HRQOL is important in order to measure the impact of chronic diseases and it is influenced not only by physical well being but also by mental conditions. HRQOL using some common or disease-specific measures, offers a more global description of the health status and of the impact of the diagnosis on the psychological condition, the sense of inadequacy and of the diversity. AIMS: evaluate HRQOL in CD patients living in the Calabrian Region in the South of Italy. Methods: 272 CD patients (pts) were given a questionnaire with 50 answers evaluating cognitive, emotional, social and relational aspects of their life. In children aged <13 years answers were given by their parents. During the analysis of the cognitive and emotional variables patients were divided in two groups: Group 1: 0–13 years and Group 2: >14 years. The average total scores were compared by ANOVA among patients grouped according to their age. Results: Knowledge about CD before the diagnosis was present in 73% of parents from Group 1 and 77% of pts from Group 2. Screen-detected diagnosis of CD was performed in 15% of pts from both Groups. Anxiety or depression correlated symptoms were higher in Group 1 (30% of parents) than in Group 2 or adult pts (12.5 %, p > 0.001). Emotional variables, related to the social environment, were present in 50% of Group 2 pts who complained of practical difficulties, including relationships (30%). The compliance to a gluten-free diet (GFD) was referred as excellent in both Groups (> 90 % of pts). The use of commercial foods from the chemists was similar in both Groups and 50% of daily diet. Conclusion: Psychological discomforts are low in CD and do not seem strictly dependent on the disease but related to the lack of social services. The compliance to a GFD is good in children and adults with moderate use of commercial gluten-free foods and widespread use of natural gluten-free foods.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
