Gender-Based Differences in a Population-Based Cohort with Celiac Disease: More Alike than Unalike

Background: There is a gap in research focused on gender-based differences in non-referral populations with celiac disease.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate those differences in a unique population-based cohort of patients with celiac disease with respect to (1) presenting symptoms, (2) associated autoimmune disorders, and (3) survival.

Methods: Clinical data were systematically abstracted from the electronic medical record of a population-based incident cohort of patients with celiac disease. Logistic regression was used to assess the strength of the association of presenting symptoms and gender. Survival differences between genders were evaluated with Cox regression.

Results: We included 282 patients (females 65%, median age 39 years) diagnosed between 1990 and 2015. The female to male ratio was 1.85:1. Men and women presented similarly. Women were more likely to present with constipation (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.06-5.12; p = 0.035). Anemia and abdominal distention or bloating were more frequently seen in women, but not on a statistically significant level. Overall autoimmune diseases were equally prevalent (31.6%) in males (30.2%) and females (32.2%) (p = 0.74). Hypothyroidism predominated in women. Age-adjusted survival was lower among men than women (HR 3.00; 95% CI 1.26-7.21, p = 0.014), but not more so than in the general population. Cancer was the most common cause of death, and there were two possible celiac disease-related deaths.

Conclusions: This study showed that men and women are more alike than unalike when it comes to celiac disease presentation and prevalence of concurrent autoimmune disease.