Factors that impact health-related quality of life in adults with celiac disease： A multicenter study

AIM： TO evaluate the factors involved in the impairment of health-related quality of life （HRQOL） in patients with celiac disease. METHODS： A multicenter, cross-sectional prospective study was performed in patients with celiac disease who completed two HRQOL questionnaires： the gastrointestinal quality of life index （GIQLI） and the EuroQol-5D （EQ）. RESULTS： Three hundred and forty patients （163 controlled with a gluten-free diet, and 177 newly diagnosed with a normal diet） were included. The GIQLI score was significantly better in patients on a gluten- free diet （GFD） than in non-treated patients on their usual diet, both in terms of the overall score （3.3 vs 2.7, respectively; P 〈 0.001）, as well as on the individual questionnaire dimensions. Both the preference value of the EQ as the visual analogue scale were significantly better in treated than in non-treated patients （0.93 vs 0.72 P 〈 0.001 and 80 vs 70 P 〈 0.001, respectively）. Variables significantly associated with a worse HRQOL score were female gender, failure to adhere to a GFD, and symptomatic status. CONCLUSION： In untreated celiac disease, the most important factors that influence patient perception ofhealth are the presence of symptoms and a normal diet. HRQOL improves to levels similar to those described in the general population in celiac disease patients well controlled with a GFD.