Celiac disease hospitalizations: an emerging challenge in the United States

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the trends and characteristics of celiac disease (CeD) hospitalizations in the United States (US). METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was analyzed from 2007-2017 to identify all adult hospitalizations with a primary discharge diagnosis of CeD. Demographic trends, associations, and other aspects of CeD hospitalizations were analyzed. SAS 9.4 was used for statistical analysis and P-values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: From 2007-2017, we noted an increasing trend of CeD hospitalizations from 19,385 in 2007 to 38,395 in 2017 (P-trend <0.001). The mean age was 57.85 years, with a declining trend. Females and patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥3 had a rising trend of CeD hospitalizations from 70.68% in 2007 to 73% in 2017 (P-trend <0.001) and from 16.96% in 2007 to 26.59% in 2017 (P-trend <0.001), respectively. Additionally, a White predominance was seen in the study cohort. Furthermore, for CeD hospitalizations, all-cause inpatient mortality increased from 1.30% in 2007 to 1.58% in 2017 (P-trend <0.001) and the mean total hospital charge increased from $26,299 in 2007 to $49,282 in 2017 (P-trend <0.001). However, we noted a decline in the mean length of stay (LOS) from 4.88 days in 2007 to 4.59 days in 2017 (P-trend=0.0015) and rates of esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed from 2.09% in 2007 to 1.89% in 2017 (P-trend <0.001). CONCLUSION: We noted a rising trend in hospitalizations, inpatient mortality, and hospital costs for CeD hospitalizations in the US; however, inpatient EGDs performed and mean LOS showed a decline.