Risk of Thyroid Disease in Individuals with Celiac Disease

• Background: It has been suggested that celiac disease is associated with thyroid disease. Earlier studies, however, have been predominately cross-sectional and have often lacked controls. There is hence a need for further research. In this study, we estimated the risk of thyroid disease in individuals with celiac disease from a general population cohort.Methods: A total of 14,021 individuals with celiac disease (1964–2003) and a matched reference population of 68,068 individuals were identified through the Swedish national registers. Cox regression estimated the risk of thyroid disease in subjects with celiac disease. Analyses were restricted to individuals with a follow-up ofmorethan 1 yr and withnothyroid disease before study entry or within 1 yr after study entry. Conditional logistic regression estimated the odds ratio for subsequent celiac disease in individuals with thyroid disease.Results: Celiac disease was positively associated with hypothyroidism [hazard ratio (HR)_4.4;95% confidence interval (CI) _ 3.4 –5.6; P _ 0.001], thyroiditis (HR _ 3.6; 95% CI _1.9–6.7; P _ 0.001) and hyperthyroidism (HR_2.9;95%CI_2.0–4.2; P_0.001). The highest risk estimates were found in children (hypothyroidism, HR _ 6.0 and 95% CI _ 3.4 –10.6; thyroiditis, HR _ 4.7 and 95% CI _ 2.1–10.5; hyperthyroidism, HR _ 4.8 and 95% CI _ 2.5–9.4). In post hoc analyses, where the reference population was restricted to inpatients, the adjusted HR was 3.4 for hypothyroidism (95% CI_2.7– 4.4; P_0.001), 3.3 for thyroiditis(95%CI_1.5–7.7; P_0.001), and 3.1 for hyperthyroidism (95% CI _ 2.0–4.8; P _ 0.001).Conclusion: Celiac disease is associated with thyroid disease, and these associations were seen regardless of temporal sequence. This indicates shared etiology and that these individuals are more susceptible to autoimmune disease.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

autoimmune; celiac; coeliac; child; cohort study; hypothyroidism; hyperthyroidism; thyroiditis.

Paediatric medicine

Pediatrisk medicin

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologi

Endocrinology

Endokrinologi

Pediatrik

Pediatrics

Epidemiologi

Epidemiology

MEDICINE

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)