Gluten-free food prescription utilisation in Northern Ireland

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Gluten-free food prescription utilisation in Northern Ireland

• IRAS ID

  190550

• Contact name

  Lesley A Anderson

• Contact email

  l.anderson@qub.ac.uk

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Background: Northern Ireland (NI) has the highest incidence of coeliac disease (CD) in the United Kingdom. Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free (GF) diet is advisable to avoid/reduce symptoms and improve prognosis in addition to improving health-related quality of life.
  Objective: The research team propose to undertake a data linkage study to establish a NI population-based cohort of CD and ‘gluten sensitivity’ patients linking population-based transglutaminase (tTG) and endomysial antibody (EMA) test results, pathology reports showing villous atrophy and the Electronic (GP) Prescribing Database. The team will also investigate the occurrence of malignancy in CD and ‘gluten sensitive’ patients and compare mortality rates to that of the general population stratifying by GF prescription utilisation.
  Methods: A dataset of all tTG and EMA tests undertaken in NI (1999-2014) will be linked to pathology reports showing villous atrophy to identify CD patients. Linkage for cancer incidence and mortality will compare rates between CD patients and the general population and with patients who have elevated tTG/EMA test results but normal pathology (defined as 'gluten sensitive'). Linkage to the Electronic Prescribing database, held within the Business Services Organisation, will enable identification of GF food prescriptions issued and enable stratification of cancer incidence and mortality based on GF prescription utilisation. The percentage of CD patients utilising GF prescriptions will be calculated and thresholds detected. Information on long-term medication usage will be reviewed to evaluate influence on GF prescription uptake.

• REC name

  HSC REC B

• REC reference

  15/NI/0226

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Mar 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion