Common Disease Unnoticed

Sufferers of the UK’s “most underdiagnosed, common chronic condition” are going an average of 13 years unaware they have it, research published today shows.

One in 100 people suffer from coeliac disease, an auto-immune disease caused by intolerance to gluten which inflames the intestine.

And yet scientists at the University of Oxford found that those polled made up to 28 visits to their GP before they were given a blood test to diagnose the problem.

Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Coeliac UK, warned that people needed to be more aware of the symptoms – including abdominal pain or bloating, diarrhoea, anaemia, chronic fatigue and weight loss – or the untreated disease could lead to more serious conditions, such as osteoporosis, infertility or bowel cancer.

“Coeliac disease is considered to be the most under-diagnosed common chronic condition in the UK today,” she said.

“There is no reason why people should not be diagnosed more quickly, and avoid years of debilitating pain and ill-health.”

The only treatment for coeliac disease is a strict life-long diet free from gluten – a mixture of proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats.

The Oxford University research showed that before diagnosis, 28.6 per cent of people with coeliac disease experienced extreme pain, but this fell to 5.1 per cent following diagnosis.

Severe anxiety levels also decreased from 13.2 per cent to 3.2 per cent following diagnosis, compared to a national average for severe anxiety being two per cent.

Coeliac UK is hoping the research, released ahead of Coeliac Awareness Week from May 14 to 20, will raise awareness about the condition.

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