Assessing the Impact of Celiac Disease on the Quality of Life in Jordan.

INTRODUCTION

Celiac disease profoundly impacts individuals' daily lives, prompting the need to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in affected children. This study aimed to evaluate HRQoL among Jordanian children with celiac disease, considering sex, dietary adherence, presence or absence of growth issues, concurrent chronic diseases, and duration since diagnosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study invited children from the Celiac Disease Care Providers Society to complete an online Kidscreen-52 questionnaire in Arabic. Descriptive statistics and T-scores for 10 health domains were analyzed against international benchmarks. Cohorts were stratified by concurrent diseases, disease duration, dietary adherence, and growth issues, with comparisons made using t-tests and Cohen's ds.

RESULTS

Among 400 registered members, 126 children (31.5%) participated. Males exhibited inferior HRQoL in multiple domains compared to the general population, with recent studies corroborating findings in females. Males with chronic diseases reported significantly worse moods and self-perception. Females with growth issues faced academic challenges and financial constraints, while those not strictly adherent to a gluten-free diet reported strained parental relationships and challenges in their home environment.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals a marked decline in HRQoL among Jordanian children with celiac disease, emphasizing the need for educational initiatives targeting patients and healthcare providers, alongside broader advocacy for gluten-free diet support. Further research is imperative to identify additional contributing factors and implement community-level interventions.