COELIAC DISEASE AND CARDIO-RENAL-METABOLIC HEALTH -EHUH 2 STUDY

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the cardio-renal-metabolic and atherogenesis profiles among patients living with coeliac disease (CD). Design and method: This cross-sectional study was part of the EH–UH 2 survey. Out of total of 2021 participants included by random selection from the general adult population, this study involved 1100 participants, who were divided into groups based on the level of CD-specific antibodies. The level of CD-specific antibodies of >=11 U/ml was defined as diagnostic of CD. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate potential differences in terms of cardio-renal-metabolic and atherogenesis profiles between CD and non-CD groups. Additionally, the frequencies of arterial hypertension (AH), myocardial infarction (MI), atrial fibrillation (Afib) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were also assessed. Results: Out of 1100 participants, 12 individuals (prevalence 1.09%) had probable CD as per prespecified criteria, with no gender differences. The mean age did not differ significantly between the groups (60.3 vs. 59 years). The CD group exhibited a higher prevalence of AH (66.9% vs. 61.9%), MI (9% vs. 3%), and CKD (9% vs. 6.3%) (p>0.05 for all), as well as higher AFib prevalence (12.5% vs. 2.4%; p=0.009). Furthermore, elevated levels of novel cardio-renal-metabolic biomarkers, including ePWV (10.2 vs. 9.86), WBC/Apo-AI (5.3 vs 4.5), urate/creatinine (4.29 vs. 4.14), monocytes/HDL (4.75 vs. 4.27) and blood glucose/HDL (4.26 vs.3.95), were observed in the CD group compared to the non-CD group, but these differences failed to reach statistical significance (likely attributable to the small sample size). Conclusions: In our small group, subjects with CD had higher prevalence of AH and cardiovascular morbidity, which is in line with some previous reports. Additionally, we found higher arterial stiffness in CD. Finding of increased values of some novel biomarkers of inflammation, metabolic dysfunction and atherogenesis should be confirmed in larger samples to determine their true clinical value in coeliac disease.