title: The prevalence of Barrett`s esophagus remains low in Eastern China. Single-center 7-year descriptive study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect Barrett`s esophagus (BE) prevalence in patients undergoing gastroscopy in Eastern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China from January 2005 to January 2012. All BE patients were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of BE were calculated generally in different age grades, calendar year, and by gender. The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and BE were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 139,416 patients were studied and 234 patients (0.168%, 95% confidence interval, 0.146%-0.189%) were identified as BE. The mean age was 61.00+/-13.98 years, and the male to female ratio was 130:104. Most cases (173) were diagnosed due to endoscopic BE features; however, 61 were diagnosed with esophagitis, esophageal ulcer, esophagopolypus, and esophageal mucosa erosion. The prevalence increased with aging (x2= 9.25, p less than 0.0001). Most BE were located in the lower segment of the esophagus (92.7%) and short-segment BE. Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were found in 131 patients (56%) and acid regurgitation was the most common symptom. Over a follow-up period, no BE developed to esophageal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of BE in the studied population was very low. Approximately half of them show no signs of GERD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China. ming_zhang0923@163.com
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang-Shan
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male