Increased risk of cataract among 28,000 patients with celiac disease.

Vitamin deficiencies are prevalent in celiac disease (CD) and are associated with cataract formation, but it is unknown whether persons with CD are at increased risk of cataract. The authors' objective in this population-based cohort study was to determine the risk of cataract among persons with biopsy-verified CD. Data on CD were collected from reports on small intestinal biopsies performed between July 1969 and February 2008 in the 28 regional pathology departments in Sweden. The authors identified 28,756 persons with CD (villous atrophy, Marsh pathology stage 3). For each person with CD, Statistics Sweden selected up to 5 controls matched for age and sex from the Total Population Register. Data on cataract were obtained from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Register and the National Day-Surgery Register. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of cataract. During a median follow-up period of 9 years, the authors identified 1,159 cataracts among persons with CD (909 were expected) (hazard ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 1.36). The absolute risk of cataract was 397/100,000 person-years in CD, with an excess risk of 86/100,000 person-years. In conclusion, this study found an increased risk of developing cataract in patients with CD.