Delays in diagnosis are linked to increases in nutritional deficiencies, fractures, and other conditions
The absence of public coverage for celiac disease testing in Ontario — the only province that currently doesn’t cover the blood test — is contributing to serious risks caused by delays in diagnosis, according to an advocacy group.
Celiac disease — an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten — affects one in 100 Canadians, according to the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA). However, only 10% to 20% of patients with the disease have been diagnosed; undiagnosed adult Canadians wait an average of 11 years before receiving confirmation that they have the disease, while children can expect a typical delay of one year.
“The longer an undiagnosed patient is exposed to gluten the greater their risk for developing serious complications,” said CCA Executive Director Melissa Secord.
The group said prolonged lack of treatment for patients with celiac disease is associated with increased nutritional deficiencies, bone fractures, cancers, and mental health problems. In the case of the latter, the CCA said, the incidence among people with celiac disease is twice as high as the incidence within the general population.
Patients left undiagnosed also go through unnecessary hospital visits and tests such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and other blood work. Such cases, according to the CCA, represent a potential loss of millions in taxpayer dollars to Ontario’s healthcare system.
In light of Celiac Disease Awareness Month, the CCA has called on Ontario to expand OHIP coverage for the IgA TTG serological test of celiac disease, specifically for the following cases:
- Children older than 3 and adults experiencing symptoms suggestive of celiac disease
- First-degree relatives of people with celiac disease (i.e. parent, child, sibling)
- Individuals with an associated autoimmune disorder or condition associated with an increased risk of celiac disease, including type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, liver disease and Down syndrome, amongst other conditions
“Because the only treatment for celiac disease is for individuals to follow a strict gluten-free diet, funds spent on unnecessary prescription drugs will be reduced, as will unnecessary diagnostic tests and visits to doctors and hospitals,” said Secord.
