Epidemiology in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a spectrum disease ranging from symptomatic disease without mucosal lesions to complications of erosive esophagitis (esophageal stricture, ulceration or Barrett's esophagus).

• Group with typical symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation but without reflux esophagitis, called non-erosive reflux disease (NERD)
• Reflux esophagitis group with or without complications
• Group with atypical symptoms

1. It is quite common (15-20%)
2. Severe esophagitis increases with age
3. The rate of severe esophagitis over the age of 60 is 75%
4. Severe esophagitis is more common in men than women
5. Daily heartburn 7%
6. Weekly heartburn 20%
7. Monthly heartburn 44%
8. It is the most common gastrointestinal disease in the United States, following gastroenteritis and cholelithiasis (19 million/year).

Risk Factors in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

• The male-female ratio is equal, esophagitis is more common in men (2-3:1)
• Obesity
• Older age (50-70 years)
• Presence of hiatal hernia
• Severity of symptoms
• alcohol use
• smoking
• History of GERD for more than 1 year
• Medicines (theophylline, progestatives, nitrates, benzodiazepines, calcium-channel blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)
• Some foods (tea, chocolate, oils)
• Postoperative situations (decubitus, naso-gastric intubation)