Abstract

Background: there is no epidemiological estimation of the incidence and prevalence of CDin the adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina(B&H), nor there are reports about the clinical presentation of CDin patients in B&H. Aim: to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CDin the adult population in Tuzla Canton in northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: we retrospectively analyzed all hospital records of both adult inpatients and outpatients evaluated in University Clinical Center Tuzla, with suspected CD and residing in Tuzla Canton of B&H between 1.1.2007 and 31.12.2009. Results: during the 3-year period we registered 42 cases of celiac disease (CD) with 31/42 (73.8%) of female and 11/42 (26.2%) of male patients – male to female ratio 1 to 2.82. The average annual crude incidence of CD during the observed period was 2.55/105 population (%95 CI=1.74-3.36). The average crude incidence in men was 1.51/105 and 4.08/105 in women. The average annual standardized incidence during the time period 2007-2009 was 1.89/105 (%95 CI=1.32-2.56).The sum prevalence during the study period was 7.66/105 population. Prevalence among men was 4.53/105 and 12.23/105 among women. Conclusions: The incidence of CD in our region is demonstrating a steep rise and apparently low prevalence in our region is merely a result of poor availability of diagnostics in previous years.

Key words: celiac disease, gluten enteropathy, epidemiology, incidence, prevalence, Bosnia and Herzegovina.