International Journal of Celiac Disease, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 4, 131-133 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijcd/2/4/5 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ijcd-2-4-5 Differences in Quality of Life and Compliance with Diet in Children with Celiac Disease in Slovak Republic Kvetoslava Rimarova 1,2,* 1 Institute of Public Health, University of P. J. Safarik, Faculty of Medicine, Košice Slovakia 2 Association of Parents, Friends of Children and Youth with Celiac Disease in Košice, Slovakia *Corresponding author: kvetoslava.rimarova@upjs.sk Received November 01, 2014; Revised November 05, 2014; Accepted November 11, 2014 Abstract Celiac disease is chronic disease with immune disorder which is connected with the allergy reaction on molecule of gluten and prolamine. Celiac disease is expressed in persons with genetic susceptibility. The aim of the study was to follow adherence to gluten-free diet. We designed cross-sectional study where was recruited 125 volunteers, children at age 9 - 15 years old, with diagnosis of celiac diseases confirmed by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition criteria. The data were collected in 2012-2013. In the selected group of celiac children were 78 girls and 47 boys. Compliance with diet is statistically significantly higher among girls comparing to boys. It means that girls adhered diet better than boys. Also younger group of children have a little bit higher compliance with gluten-free diet comparing to older group, but OR was not statistically significant. Our outputs didn’t confirm fact that duration of disease is important factor which may influence the compliance with gluten-free diet, but more close is a relationship in diet compliance in children with shorter duration of disease. Keywords: celiac disease, children, adherence to diet, gluten-free diet Cite This Article: Kvetoslava Rimarova, “Differences in Quality of Life and Compliance with Diet in Children with Celiac Disease in Slovak Republic.” International Journal of Celiac Disease, vol. 2, no. 4 (2014): 131-133. doi: 10.12691/ijcd-2-4-5. 1. Introduction Celiac disease (CD) is chronic autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy onward. Symptoms include pain and discomfort in the digestive tract, chronic constipation and diarrhea, growth stunting, anemia and fatigue. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients deficiencies are often noted in people with coeliac disease owing to the reduced ability of the small intestine to properly absorb nutrients from food [1]. At present, the only effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet [2]. No medication exists that will prevent damage or prevent the body from attacking the gut when gluten is present. Strict adherence to the diet allows the intestines to heal, leading to resolution of all symptoms in most cases and, depending on how soon the diet is begun, can also eliminate the heightened risk of osteoporosis and intestinal cancer and in some cases sterility [3]. The diet can be cumbersome; failure to comply with the diet may cause relapse. Regarding quality of life of celiac people there have been several studies of quality of life in the group of CD patients. Some of them focused on adult population [4,5] some on children’s group [6,7]. Usually CDs is diagnosed and developed through childhood and this chronic disorder can negatively impact all aspects of health and wellbeing - physical, social and psychological. We suppose that is very important to discover and confirm the extent to which celiac children suffer as a result of the disease. Scientific studies comparing quality of life in patients with CD have conflicting and different results. Some studies [7,8,9,10] confirmed that quality of life was almost on the same level as the general population, other reference studies confirm decreased quality of life particularly in mental and social areas [11]. The aim of our study was to compare gender difference in quality of life in Slovak celiac children. We tried to compare difference between boys and girls in quality of life and wellbeing using personal questionnaire and clinical data which confirmed diagnosis. 2. Material and Methods We designed cross-sectional study where was recruited 125 volunteers, children at age 9 - 15 years, with diagnosis of CDs confirmed by ESPGHAN (European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition) criteria [12]. The data were collected in 2012-2013. In the selected group of celiac children were 78 girls and 47 boys. Data for questionnaires were collected in outpatient gastroenterology department. Selected children obtained questionnaires modified to their school age to assess physical, social, psychological wellbeing and compliance with diet. Children questionnaires were anonymous and separate sheet confirmed prior signed agreement of parents or tutor of the child. Some questions have been added specifically to CD questions concerning lifestyle,