Celiac Disease Increases Risk for Pneumonia

Celiac.com 09/14/2015 - People with celiac disease have slightly higher risk for contracting pneumonia, especially in the first year after diagnosis.

The study was conducted a team that included Joe West, MD, an epidemiologist and honorary consultant gastroenterologist at the University of Nottingham.

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The study found that people with celiac disease who are unvaccinated against pneumococcus are about 30% more likely to develop community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) than are unvaccinated people without celiac disease.

Dr. West says the increased risk is likely due to weakened spleen function in people with celiac disease.

This elevated risk was not seen in vaccinated celiac patients, or people over 65 years of age.

The results of the study suggest that clinicians be extra vigilant about vaccinating celiac patients, and health officials in the United Kingdom are now recommend that people with celiac disease receive pneumococcus vaccinations.

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