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Associations between residential greenness, land cover and risk of celiac disease in genetically at-risk children: Celiac Prediction in Skåne study

Boström, Michaela LU ; Roslund, Marja ; Häme, Lauri ; Manninen, Juulia ; Molinier, Matthieu ; Sinkkonen, Aki and Agardh, Daniel LU (2026) In Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Jpgn p.1-8
Abstract
Objectives
Our aim was to study the association between residential land cover and greenness during childhood and risk of developing celiac disease (CeD).

Methods
The Celiac Prediction in Skåne study prospectively followed 5969 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-genotyped children born 2001–2004 who were screened for CeD at ages 3, 9, and 15 years in Skåne, Sweden. Among these, 138 (2.3%) children only in the HLA at-risk group were identified and diagnosed with CeD through screening. Children diagnosed with CeD outside the screening program were excluded. For the present study, 2535 children at HLA-risk were included. Residential addresses at birth and screening time points were transformed into spatial coordinates.... (More)
Objectives
Our aim was to study the association between residential land cover and greenness during childhood and risk of developing celiac disease (CeD).

Methods
The Celiac Prediction in Skåne study prospectively followed 5969 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-genotyped children born 2001–2004 who were screened for CeD at ages 3, 9, and 15 years in Skåne, Sweden. Among these, 138 (2.3%) children only in the HLA at-risk group were identified and diagnosed with CeD through screening. Children diagnosed with CeD outside the screening program were excluded. For the present study, 2535 children at HLA-risk were included. Residential addresses at birth and screening time points were transformed into spatial coordinates. Coordination of Information on the Environment Land Cover data was collected the corresponding years. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Leaf Area Index (LAI) were calculated for the summer months.

Results
Higher residential LAI, an indicator of forest and agricultural land cover within a 500-meter buffer, was associated with increased odds of CeD in adjusted logistic regression models at age 3 (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.14–1.99) and age 9 (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.13–2.27). After false discovery rate adjustment, several associations with LAI remained statistically significant, whereas no land cover classes were associated with CeD.

Conclusions
Residential greenness was associated with increased CeD risk in the Skåne province. This exploratory observational finding warrants replication in independent populations before conclusions can be drawn regarding potential environmental drivers in the etiology of CeD. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Jpgn
pages
1 - 8
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:42021538
  • scopus:105036591639
ISSN
1536-4801
DOI
10.1002/jpn3.70440
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0267380c-91d7-4c29-aaa7-cdc045a8c12b
date added to LUP
2026-04-27 10:32:22
date last changed
2026-05-13 04:00:59
@article{0267380c-91d7-4c29-aaa7-cdc045a8c12b,
  abstract     = {{Objectives<br/>Our aim was to study the association between residential land cover and greenness during childhood and risk of developing celiac disease (CeD).<br/><br/>Methods<br/>The Celiac Prediction in Skåne study prospectively followed 5969 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-genotyped children born 2001–2004 who were screened for CeD at ages 3, 9, and 15 years in Skåne, Sweden. Among these, 138 (2.3%) children only in the HLA at-risk group were identified and diagnosed with CeD through screening. Children diagnosed with CeD outside the screening program were excluded. For the present study, 2535 children at HLA-risk were included. Residential addresses at birth and screening time points were transformed into spatial coordinates. Coordination of Information on the Environment Land Cover data was collected the corresponding years. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Leaf Area Index (LAI) were calculated for the summer months.<br/><br/>Results<br/>Higher residential LAI, an indicator of forest and agricultural land cover within a 500-meter buffer, was associated with increased odds of CeD in adjusted logistic regression models at age 3 (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.14–1.99) and age 9 (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.13–2.27). After false discovery rate adjustment, several associations with LAI remained statistically significant, whereas no land cover classes were associated with CeD.<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>Residential greenness was associated with increased CeD risk in the Skåne province. This exploratory observational finding warrants replication in independent populations before conclusions can be drawn regarding potential environmental drivers in the etiology of CeD.}},
  author       = {{Boström, Michaela and Roslund, Marja and Häme, Lauri and Manninen, Juulia and Molinier, Matthieu and Sinkkonen, Aki and Agardh, Daniel}},
  issn         = {{1536-4801}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--8}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Jpgn}},
  title        = {{Associations between residential greenness, land cover and risk of celiac disease in genetically at-risk children: Celiac Prediction in Skåne study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.70440}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/jpn3.70440}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}