Resumo

ROMAN-GIMENEZ, Karina Gisselle; CUEVAS-DUARTE, Elsi Fiorella; ACOSTA SANCHEZ, Lilian  e  SAMUDIO, Margarita. Clinical and demographic characteristics, and access to gluten free products of patients with celiac disease registered in the FUPACEL. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2021, vol.19, n.2, pp.78-85. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2021.019.02.78.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects the mucosa of the small intestine that leads to a state of malabsorption in genetically susceptible patients triggered by the ingestion of gluten. It has nonspecific symptoms, associated complications, and there is no national financial support law for people with difficulty following a gluten-free diet. The objective of this observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was to describe the clinical, demographic characteristics and access to gluten-free products of 237 patients with celiac disease registered in the FUPACEL in 2020 who accepted to answer a online survey published in the official FUPACEL webpage. Seventy-point four percent of the patients were female, their age of diagnosis was between 20-30 years in 34.5%, 48% had relatives with CD, 69.1% presented abdominal distension as initial symptoms, hypothyroidism was present in 16.8% as associated pathology, and 42% were hospitalized at least once. Eighty-two-point seven percent of those surveyed answered that diet was sufficient as a treatment, 48% had a job and could afford expenses, however, 79.3% said they had limited access to gluten-free products, 92% that gluten-free foods were expensive and a financial support law was needed to cover the costs. Most recognized that a gluten-free diet as a treatment was sufficient, however, due to its high cost, a law of financial support is needed for people with celiac disease.

Palavras-chave : Celiac disease; clinical presentation; gluten-free diet.

        · resumo em Espanhol     · texto em Espanhol     · Espanhol ( pdf )