Coeliac disease in Croatia

Zrinjka Mišak

Referral Center for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Children’s Hospital Zagreb

CD in Croatia

Croatia – 4,3 mil inhabitants Zagreb – near 1 mil

Zagreb

Rijeka

Split

Osijek

4 university medical centres

CD in Croatia

Children’s Hospital Zagreb

• Referral Center for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

• Ongoing studies:• PreventCD• Chromosomal abberations

Epidemiology of CD in Croatia

Incidence of clinically recognized CD pts 1:519 (Matek et al, Coll Antropol 1999)

Screening: 1:461 (Jungvirth et al, Acta Med Croat 2001)

Zagreb

Rijeka

Split

Osijek

Clinical picture of CD in Croatia

Majority of patients (70%) younger than 2 y of age

classical clinical picture

Clinical picture of CD in Croatia

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

<2y

>2y

CD in Croatia

After the diagnosis 10 kg of gluten free flour per

month free of charges (covered by the health insurance)

Mother of a patient can prolong a maternity leave up to 3 y of age

CD in Croatia - Problems

The exact number of diagnosed pts unknown (no registry)

Several societies - not collaborating well

Awareness of the problem is low