Do Individuals With Celiac Disease Really Have an Increased Risk of Cancer?

Diagnosis of celiac disease has increased significantly over the past decade. The risk of cancer in this patient population is thought to be increased, although the data are variable. This population-based Swedish study evaluated cancer risk (both hematologic and solid) in patients with celiac disease. 

A total of 47,241 patients with celiac disease (as defined by duodenal villous atrophy), identified by data from Sweden’s 28 pathology departments (Epidemiology Strengthened by histoPathology Reports in Sweden cohort), were matched with 225,180 controls without celiac disease. Patients were matched by age, sex, and county. A stratified Cox proportional hazards model was used to follow patients from diagnosis until first cancer, or by December 31, 2016. 

After a median follow-up of 11.3 years in patients with celiac disease and 11.5 years in controls, cancer incidence was 6.5 and 5.7 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Although the overall risk of cancer in patients with celiac disease was increased (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.15), this increase was restricted to the first year following a celiac disease diagnosis (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 2.22-2.74). One year beyond the diagnosis of celiac disease, the association between celiac disease and cancer was no longer significant (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.05). The types of cancer that had the strongest association with the diagnosis of celiac disease were hematologic, lymphoproliferative, and gastrointestinal (namely hepatobiliary and pancreatic). The overall risk of cancer was highest in those diagnosed with celiac disease after age 60 years (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.16-1.29) and was not increased in those diagnosed before age 40.