Celiac disease in the Sidi Bel Abbes region of Northwestern Algeria

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the incidence and prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) among the population of Sidi Bel Abbes region in Northwestern Algeria. A retrospective analysis was performed on CD patients from records between 2015 and 2020. One hundred fi fty-six (156) patients were included in the study (mean age 32.4 ± 1.3 years). The CD incidence decreased from 12.9 per 100 000 person-years in 2015 to 8.5 per 100 000 person-years in 2020. It was signifi cantly higher in the age groups of 15-29 years compared to those of 4-14, p=0.04 and >56 years, p=0.004. The CD incidence was signifi cant greater in women than men with a value of 7.3 per 100 000 person years, p=0.0002. The CD prevalence was 0,063%. The decrease of CD frequency could be explained by limited diagnosis given the ubiquitous clinical picture and sometimes asymptomatic nature of CD.