A Summary of Celiac Disease Statistics
Data on the prevalence of
celiac disease are spotty. In Italy, about 1 in 250 people have celiac disease. In Ireland, about 1 in 300 people have the disease. Recent studies have shown that it may be more common in Africa, South America, and Asia than previously believed.
Until recently, celiac disease was thought to be uncommon in the United States. However, studies have shown that celiac disease is very common. Recent findings estimate about 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease, or about 1 in 133 people. Among people who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with celiac disease, as many as 1 in 22 people may have the disease.
About 3 to 8 percent of people with
type 1 diabetes will have biopsy-confirmed celiac disease, and 5 to 10 percent of people with
Down syndrome will be diagnosed with celiac disease.
Celiac disease could be underdiagnosed in the United States for a number of reasons, including:
- Celiac symptoms can be attributed to other problems
- Many doctors are not knowledgeable about the disease
- Only a small number of US laboratories are experienced and skilled in testing for the disease.
More research is needed to learn the true prevalence of celiac disease among Americans.
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