Wiki page
epidemiology
How to read this page
Start with the article narrative. Use the right sidebar to jump from prose into concept context, nearby graph relationships, and source provenance.
Prevalence
- 1 in 50 to 1 in 200 people globally have celiac disease
- Estimated ~70% remain undiagnosed and untreated
- Diagnoses have increased in recent decades due to greater awareness and blood test availability
- Still considered significantly underdiagnosed; more undiagnosed cases in poorer areas and countries without routine testing
Demographics
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age of onset | Most develop disease before age 10 |
| Age at diagnosis | ~20% diagnosed after age 60 |
| Sex | Slightly more common in women than men (partly due to diagnostic bias — men with GI symptoms less likely to receive biopsy) |
Geographic Distribution
- Less common where gluten-containing crops are rarely eaten: parts of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa
- Higher prevalence in areas where HLA-DQ2/DQ8 genes are common (regions with long wheat-eating history)
- The HLA-DQ2 gene may have been evolutionarily favoured as it appears to help protect against tooth decay — which may explain its persistence despite the disease burden
High-Risk Populations
| Group | Risk |
|---|---|
| First-degree relatives of celiac patients | Substantially elevated |
| Second-degree relatives | Mildly elevated |
| Type 1 diabetes | Comorbid autoimmune association |
| Autoimmune thyroid disease (hyper- and hypothyroid) | Comorbid autoimmune association |
| Down syndrome | Elevated |
| Turner syndrome | Elevated |
| IgA deficiency | Elevated (~1 in 40 celiac patients have IgA deficiency) |
Trends
- Prevalence of HLA-DQ2 genotype + gluten consumption has increased over time (due to diet changes)
- Despite expectations that HLA-DQ2 should become less common, it remains stable or increases in populations with high wheat consumption