Canadian Digestive Health Foundation Public Impact Series 4: celiac disease in Canada. Incidence, prevalence, and direct and indirect economic impact.

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation initiated a scientific program to assess the incidence, prevalence, mortality and economic impact of digestive disorders across Canada in 2009. The current article presents the updated findings from the study concerning celiac disease.

Survey of access to gastroenterology in Canada: the SAGE wait times program.

Background: Assessment of current wait times for specialist health services in Canada is a key method that can assist government and health care providers to plan wisely for future health needs. These data are not readily available. A method to capture wait time data at the time of consultation or procedure has been developed, which should be applicable to other specialist groups and also allows for assessment of wait time trends over intervals of years.

Introduction of oats in the diet of individuals with celiac disease: a systematic review.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disease, triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by ingested gluten from wheat, rye, barley, and other closely related cereal grains. The only treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life. This paper presents a systematic review of the scientific literature on the safety of pure oats for individuals with celiac disease, which historically has been subject to debate.

Home blood testing for celiac disease: recommendations for management.

Objective: To provide recommendations for the management of patients who inquire about the Health Canada-approved, self-administered home blood tests for celiac disease or who present with positive test results after using the self-testing kit

Sources Of Information: PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from January 1985 to April 2008, using the subject headings diagnosis of celiac disease and management or treatment of celiac disease. Guidelines for serologic testing and confirmation of diagnosis of celiac disease by the American Gastroenterological Association and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition are used in this review. Level 1 evidence was used.

Consumption of pure oats by individuals with celiac disease: a position statement by the Canadian Celiac Association.

The treatment of celiac disease is a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for life. In the past, oats were considered to be toxic to individuals with celiac disease and were not allowed in a gluten-free diet. However, recent evidence suggests that oats that are pure and uncontaminated with other gluten-containing grains, if taken in limited quantities, are safe for most individuals with celiac disease.

The Canadian Celiac Health Survey.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the diagnostic process, frequency of associated disorders, family history, and impact of a gluten-free diet in individuals with celiac disease. All members of the Canadian Celiac Association (n=5240) were surveyed with a questionnaire. Respondents included 2681 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease.

Canadian consensus on medically acceptable wait times for digestive health care.

Background: Delays in access to health care in Canada have been reported, but standardized systems to manage and monitor wait lists and wait times, and benchmarks for appropriate wait times, are lacking. The objective of the present consensus was to develop evidence- and expertise-based recommendations for medically appropriate maximal wait times for consultation and procedures by a digestive disease specialist.

Methods: A steering committee drafted statements defining maximal wait times for specialist consultation and procedures based on the most common reasons for referral of adult patients to a digestive disease specialist.

Celiac disease: evaluation of the diagnosis and dietary compliance in Canadian children.

Objectives: We sought to characterize the clinical features at presentation as well as the associated disorders, family history, and evaluation of compliance with a gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease from across Canada.

Study Design: All members (n = 5240) of the Canadian Celiac Association were surveyed with a questionnaire. Of the 2849 respondents with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease, 168 who were < 16 years old provided the data reported here.

The Canadian celiac health survey--the Ottawa chapter pilot.

Background: Celiac disease may manifest with a variety of symptoms which can result in delays in diagnosis. Celiac disease is associated with a number of other medical conditions. The last national survey of members of the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) was in 1989.

Clinical experience with infliximab for Crohn's disease: the first 100 patients in Edmonton, Alberta.

Objective: To determine whether the clinical efficacy and safety of infliximab in diverse clinical referral practices was similar to that seen in the randomized, controlled clinical trials.

Methods: Data were gathered from a review of charts of 109 consecutive patients with inflammatory and/or fistulizing Crohn's disease who received infliximab infusions. Responses were recorded based on the physician's global clinical assessment and classified as complete, partial or nonresponse.