Celiac Dietary Adherence Test simplifies Determining Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet in Swedish Adolescents

• Objectives: The aims of the study were to ascertain whether the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) could contribute in determining adherence to a gluten-free diet in celiac disease patients and to evaluate the diet adherence and well-being of a study population five years after a celiac disease screening known as “Exploring the Iceberg of Celiacs in Sweden”.Methods: Through the screening, 90 adolescents (born 1997) were diagnosed with biopsy-proven celiac disease at twelve-years of age. Of them, 70 (78%) came to a five-year follow-up where anti–tissue transglutaminase antibodies 2 (TG2-IgA) was tested and a questionnaire was filled in, including CDAT, which consists of seven questions related to adherence. Non-parametrical tests were utilized to determine associations between adherence measures.Results: Among the adolescents, 86% were adherent to a gluten-free diet five years after screening, 38% reported their general well-being as excellent, 50% very well, and 12% well. Statistically significant associations were seen between TG2-IgA and the CDAT score (p=0.033), and the self-reported adherence question and the CDAT score (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The screening-detected adolescents reported a high level of well-being and adherence to a gluten-free diet five years after screening. We conclude that the CDAT can be used in clinical practice as an estimation of adherence to a gluten-free diet. It would be most suitable to use in conjunction with currently used adherence measures, but can also be used as a stand-alone method when others are not accessible.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)