Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Korea.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to Western countries, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is still believed to be very low in the Far East. The aim of the present paper was to assess the prevalence of BE in Korea.


METHODS
Nine hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients undergoing their first diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies due to various indications were included from four university hospitals in Korea. Esophagus of each patient was examined during insertion of the endoscope with minimum air inflation. From subjects who were found, during endoscopy, to have columnar-lined esophagus, at least two biopsy samples were taken from the columnar epithelium. Patients exhibiting specialized columnar epithelium on histological examination were diagnosed as having BE.


RESULTS
Among 992 patients, 108 cases (10.9%) were endoscopically diagnosed as short-segment BE, and three cases (0.3%) were endoscopically diagnosed as long-segment BE. However, only 36 patients (3.6%) met the histological criteria for BE. Among these patients, only one (0.1%) was histologically diagnosed as having long-segment BE. Reflux esophagitis, mostly in a mild degree, was found in 25.0% of the BE group, and 8.6% of the non-BE group (P = 0.0022). Hiatal hernias were more commonly found in the BE group than in the non-BE group (22.2% vs 8.9%, P = 0.0163).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the prevalence of BE in Korea appears to be lower than the reported rates from Western countries, it may not be as low as was previously thought.
Kim
Jin Yong
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Young Sun
YS
Jung
Moon-Ki
MK
Park
Jong-Jae
JJ
Kang
Dong Hoon
DH
Kim
Jae Seon
JS
Song
Chi-Wook
CW
Lee
Sang Woo
SW
Bak
Young-Tae
YT
D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors