How Common Is
Coeliac Disease? 

Celiac disease is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting around 1 in every 100 people. It’s an autoimmune disorder that often develops during early childhood, but can occur at any age.1

On average, it takes 10 to 13 years from onset of symptoms for a person to be diagnosed with celiac disease. This lengthy delay means that celiac disease is often only recognized in adulthood.2,3  There is no cure; the only treatment is a strict life-long gluten-free diet.1

Coeliac disease is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting around 1 in every 100 people. It’s an autoimmune disorder that often develops during early childhood, but can occur at any age.1

On average, it takes 10 to 13 years from onset of symptoms for a person to be diagnosed with coeliac disease. This lengthy delay means that coeliac disease is often only recognised in adulthood.2,3 There is no cure; the only treatment is a strict life-long gluten-free diet.1

If left untreated, coeliac disease can cause: 


Other long-term medical conditions.1,4

Reduced quality of life2

Reduced life-expectancy1


Other long-term medical conditions.1,4


Other long-term medical conditions.1,4


Reduced quality of life2


Reduced quality of life2


Reduced life-expectancy1


Reduced life-expectancy1

 

How likely am I to have coeliac disease?

Many people don’t realise how common coeliac disease really is, as about three quarters of people who have the condition are not yet formally diagnosed.1,5

Coeliac disease often runs in families;6 if someone in your family has it, talk to your healthcare provider to see if you or any other family members should be tested.

Your risk of coeliac disease may also be higher than that of the general population if you have symptoms of coeliac disease,7 or certain pre-existing medical conditions.8-10

of people with coeliac disease do not know that they have the condition.1,5

Find out more about your risk of having coeliac disease

Select an option to see how the risk of coeliac disease changes.

General population1
(no specific risk-factors)
General population1
(no specific risk-factors)
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
1 / 100
Classic (gut-related) symptoms of coeliac disease7
Classic (gut-related) symptoms of coeliac disease7
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
2 / 100
First-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with coeliac disease6
First-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with coeliac disease6
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
8 / 100
Second-degree relative (aunt, uncle, grandparent, or grandchild) with coeliac disease6
Second-degree relative (aunt, uncle, grandparent, or grandchild) with coeliac disease6
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
2 / 100
Other autoimmune conditions (such as type 1 diabetes)1
Other autoimmune conditions (such as type 1 diabetes)1
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
15 / 100
Genetic syndromes such as Down's syndrome, Turner syndrome, or Williams syndrome8-10
Genetic syndromes such as Down's syndrome, Turner syndrome, or Williams syndrome8-10
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
10 / 100
Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)11
Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)11
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
5 / 100
Infertility12
Infertility12
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
8 / 100
Iron deficiency anaemia13
Iron deficiency anaemia13
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
5 / 100
Select one or more symptoms to see your likelihood of having coeliac disease
The likelihood that you have coeliac disease is approximately
1 / 100
If more than one of these options applies to you, you may be even more likely to be at risk of having coeliac disease. If you think you may have it, visit your healthcare provider and ask to be tested.

1. Gujral N, Freeman H J, Thomson A B. Celiac disease: prevalence, diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2012;18(42):6036-6059

2. Gray A M, Papanicolas I N. Impact of symptoms on quality of life before and after diagnosis of coeliac disease: results from a UK population survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2010;10:105

3. Norström F, Lindholm L et al. Delay to celiac disease diagnosis and its implications for health-related quality of life. BMC Gastroenterology 2011;11(1):118

4. Leffler D A, Green P H, Fasano A. Extraintestinal manifestations of coeliac disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015;12(10):561-571

5. West J, Fleming K M et al. Incidence and prevalence of celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis in the UK over two decades: population-based study. Am J Gastroenterol 2014;109(5):757-768

6. Singh P, Arora S et al. Risk of celiac disease in the first- and second-degree relatives of patients with celiac disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol 2015;110(11):1539-1548

7. Fasano A, Berti I et al. Prevalence of celiac disease in at-risk and not-at-risk groups in the United States: a large multicenter study. Arch Intern Med 2003;163(3):286-292

8. Du Y, Shan L F et al. Prevalence of celiac disease in patients with Down syndrome: a meta-analysis. Oncotarget 2018;9(4):5387-5396

9. Bonamico M, Pasquino A M et al. Prevalence and clinical picture of  celiac disease in Turner syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87(12):5495-5498

10. Giannotti A, Tiberio G et al. Coeliac disease in Williams syndrome. J Med Genet 2001;38(11):767-768

11. El-Salhy M, Hatlebakk J G et al. The relation between celiac disease, nonceliac gluten sensitivity and irritable bowel syndrome. Nutr J 2015;14:92

12. Shah S, Leffler D. Celiac disease: an underappreciated issue in women's health. Womens Health (Lond) 2010;6(5):753-766

13. Al-Toma A, Volta U et al. European Society for the Study of Coeliac Disease (ESsCD) guideline for coeliac disease and other gluten-related disorders. United European Gastroenterol J 2019;7(5):583-613