Up to 50% of people with undiagnosed coeliac disease have anaemia

May 06, 2016

Thanks to a new survey undertaken in association with YouGov, almost a quarter (23%) of British adults recalled being told they were anaemic following a blood test.And as anaemia is experienced in up to 50% of patients with coeliac disease at time of diagnosis, we’re concerned that a significant number of people with anaemia could also have undiagnosed coeliac disease.

Thanks to a new survey undertaken in association with YouGov, almost a quarter (23%) of British adults recalled being told they were anaemic following a blood test.

And as anaemia is experienced in up to 50% of patients with coeliac disease at time of diagnosis, we’re concerned that a significant number of people with anaemia could also have undiagnosed coeliac disease. That’s why we’re focusing on the link between iron deficiency anaemia and coeliac disease this Awareness Week – it might just be the key to finding the estimated 500, 000 undiagnosed people in the UK.

The evidence speaks for itself – whist iron deficiency anaemia is experienced by 2-5% of men and postmenopausal women and 5-12% of premenopausal women in the UK at any time, it occurs in a staggering 30-50% of people with coeliac disease at diagnosis. In recognition of this fact, NICE Guidance recommends that GPs screen patients with recurring or unexplained iron, B12 or folate deficiency anaemia for coeliac disease.

Everyone’s coeliac disease symptoms are different, which is why it’s crucial for us to highlight anaemia as one of the less commonly known examples. With the help of our new campaign faces, Hazel and David, who both experienced anaemia as their main coeliac disease symptom, we hope to encourage more people than ever before to get tested for the condition and check out their symptoms at our online assessment www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk.

It’s not too late for you to get involved with Coeliac UK Awareness Week too – if you haven’t already, why notsign up to support our Thunderclap campaign or enter our symptoms selfie competition.

Read the full press release here.