Early Life GI Infections May Raise Risk of Celiac Disease Later

Children who have one or more gastrointestinal infections before age 1 year face an increased risk of celiac disease (CD) later in life, according to a recent study. Additionally, children who have a respiratory infection before age 1 year face an increased risk of CD but to a lesser extent.

Previous research has suggested that repeated early life infections may be associated with developing CD later in life.
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Nearly 300,000 infants born between 2005 and 2007 in Bavaria, Germany, were assessed, who represented more than 90% of all children born in the area during the study period. The study investigated prospective claims data containing information on medically attended infectious diseases, and the researchers followed participants for a median of 8.5 years.

The researchers calculated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of time to CD diagnosis by infection exposure according to ICD-10 code on a quarterly basis.

After adjustment for sex, calendar month of birth, and number of previous health care visits, the results showed that children who had a gastrointestinal infection during the first year of life had an increased risk of CD. Additionally, children who had a respiratory infection before age 1 year faced an increased risk of CD, although to a lesser extent.

“Repeated gastrointestinal infections during the first year of life were associated with particularly increased CD risk in later life,” the researchers concluded. “These findings indicate that early gastrointestinal infections may be relevant for CD development.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Beyerlein A, Donnachie E, Ziegler AG. Infections in early life and development of celiac disease [Published online June 16, 2017]. Am J Epidemiol. doi:10.1093/aje/kwx190.