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Prevalence of neurological problems in a community-based sample of paediatric coeliac disease: a cross-sectional study
  1. Thom O'Neill1,
  2. Peter M Gillett2,
  3. Philippa Wood1,
  4. David Beattie1,
  5. Deepa J Patil3,
  6. Richard F Chin4,5
  1. 1Paediatric Department, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK
  2. 2Gastroenterology Department, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK
  3. 3Paediatric Department, Saint John's Hospital at Howden, Livingston, UK
  4. 4Neurosciences Department, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK
  5. 5Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Peter M Gillett, Gastroenterology Department, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Peter.Gillett{at}nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Abstract

Background The prevalence of and risk factors for neurological problems in childhood coeliac disease (CD) are unclear.

Methods We performed a cross-sectional, community-based audit of CD in children diagnosed from January 2010 to December 2016 in Lothian.

Results 79 (28%) of 284 children with CD (201, 70.8% female) (mean age 8.3 years, range of 1–16) had neurological problems. Fifteen (5.3%) had headaches/migraine, 10 (3.5%) anxiety, 8 (2.8%) motor/co-ordination problems / ataxia (there were no patients with ataxia), 7 (2.5%) had behavioural issues, 5 (1.8 %) with ASD, 5 (1.8%) low mood, 4 (1.4%) ADD/ ADHD, 3 (1.1%) seizures and 2 (0.7%) had neuropathy. Neurological problems were more common with later age at CD diagnosis (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14) and male gender (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.95).

Conclusion Prevalence of neurological problems in children with CD in Lothian is lower than published adult CD studies and similar or lower to the reported prevalence in the general childhood population.

  • epidemiology
  • gastroenterology
  • neurology

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request.

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-321770

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available upon reasonable request.

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    Footnotes

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    • Correction notice This paper has been corrected since it was first published. The wording and some numbers and percentages in the abstract do not match the supplementary table data. In the abstract, the results section has been changed to the following: Fifteen (5.3%) had headaches/migraines, 10 (3.5%) anxiety, 8 (2.8%) motor/co-ordination problems/ataxia (there were no patients with ataxia), 7 (2.5%) had behavioural issues, 5 (1.8 %) with ASD, 5 (1.8%) low mood, 4 (1.4%) ADD/ ADHD, 3 (1.1%) seizures and 2 (0.7%) had neuropathy. In Table 1, in the heading Neurological problems, No, N=145 stated, this is incorrect and has been corrected to No (N=205). In the supplementary table, the Autism/ASD percentage in the study cohort column should read 1.8% and this has also been updated.

    • Contributors Original database work conducted by PW, DB and DP. Data analyses and prinicipal drafting of manuscript by TO'N, PG and RC. Study conceptualisation and design by PG and RFC.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.