The Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Barrett`s Esophagus in a Korean Population A Nationwide Multicenter Prospective Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Barrett`s esophagus (BE) in the general Korean population by evaluating, screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In addition. the risk factors for BE were identified. Method: An esophagogastroduodenoscopy examination was performed in 25,536 subjects who had Upper endoscopy screening from January 2006 to July 2006. Results: Two hundred and fifteen Subjects were confirmed to have BE by pathology. thus the prevalence of BE was calculated to be 0.84%,. The endoscopic findings were subdivided into 2 groups: BE Without reflux esophagitis (RE). which included 167 (77.7%), and BE with R E, which included 48 (22.3%). The analysis of symptoms showed that only 60.1% of the subjects with BE had reflux symptoms. Chest pain [odds ratio (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence interval (0): 1.04-2.11] and epigastric soreness (OR: 1.42, 95% Cl: 1.05-1.93) were found more frequently in the Subjects with BE compared with the normal Subjects. The multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for all subjects with BE were a male sex (OR: 1.81 95% Cl: 1.32-2.50). nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (OR: 2.02, 95%, Cl: 1.28-3.20). hiatal hernia (OR: 5.66. 95% Cl: 3.70-8.66), and an age >= 60 compared with in age < 40 (OR: 1.81. 95% Cl: 1.07-3.09). There was no significant difference associated with RE. Conclusions: The prevalence of BE in Korean patients presenting for a routine health check-up was 0.84% lower than reported in Western countries. Among the subjects with BE 77.7% did not have endoscopic erosions and there were no reflux symptoms in 39.9%. These results suggest that regular endoscopic screening with a high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis of BE.