Epidemiology of Barrett's Esophagus

Park, Moo In

doi:2012.12.2.55

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 12(2); 2012 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2012;12(2):55-61.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2012.12.2.55 Published online June 10, 2012.

Epidemiology of Barrett's Esophagus

Moo In Park

Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. mipark@ns.kosinmed.or.kr

바렛식도의 역학

박무인

고신대학교 의과대학 내과학교실

Abstract

Barrett's esophagus was first described more than 50 years ago. Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause Barrett's esophagus, and predisposes the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Barrett's esophagus can be defined as the presence of specialized intestinal metaplasia within any length of the esophagus. However, there is still heterogeneity in definition of Barrett's esophagus, which has resulted in confusion and difficulties in comparing the various studies on the epidemiology of Barrett's esophagus. In Western countries, the incidence of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma has progressively increased. In contrast, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma is not increasing in Asia. Increased age, male sex, smoking, reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis have been found to be risk factors for Barrett's esophagus in several studies from Asia. The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Asia outside Japan ranges from 0.06% to 6.2%, and is still lower than that in Western countries.

Key Words: Barrett's esophagus; Prevalence; Risk factors