PD944 - CHANGES IN GLUTEN-FREE DIET ADHERENCE AND GROWTH PARAMETERS AMONG CHILDREN WITH CELIAC DISEASE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

PD944

CHANGES IN GLUTEN-FREE DIET ADHERENCE AND GROWTH PARAMETERS AMONG CHILDREN WITH CELIAC DISEASE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Y. Erkol Yılmaz^1,*, C. Tuna Kırsaclıoglu², A. Kansu², A. Ensari³, Z. Kuloglu²

¹Department of Pediatrics, ²Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, ³Department of Pathology, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: Strict exclusion of gluten is the cornerstone of celiac disease (CD) management; nevertheless, maintaining dietary adherence remains challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced dietary adherence in children with CD. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the pandemic on gluten free diet (GFD) adherence and anthropometric measurements.

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included  81 pediatric patients with CD  (67.9% female; mean age 14.9±3.4 years) who had been following a GFD for at least one year before the pandemic. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and anthropometric data from pre-pandemic, lockdown and post-pandemic periods were obtained from medical records. Dietary adherence was assessed via structured telephone questionnaire. Participants reporting either complete avoidance of gluten or fewer than six inadvertent gluten exposures annually were categorized as verbally adherent. Serological adherence was defined by negative celiac-specific antibodies.

Results: The mean duration of GFD was 3.9±2.4 years. Serological adherence increased from 51.9% to 82.7% during the lockdown period and remained high (76.5%) at the end of the pandemic. Improved adherence was associated with home cooking (p<0.001), the presence of another family member with CD (p=0.032) or following a GFD (p=0.002), and maternal education level (p=0.002). Most participants (87.6%) reported difficulty accessing gluten-free products, mainly due to high cost and limited variety. No significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements across the study periods.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic positively affected GFD adherence in children with CD without significant changes in anthropometric measurements.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared