title: Update on the epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To update the findings of the 2005 systematic review of population-based studies assessing the epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed and Embase were screened for new references using the original search strings. Studies were required to be population-based, to include ≥ 200 individuals, to have response rates ≥ 50% and recall periods <12 months. GERD was defined as heartburn and/or regurgitation on at least 1 day a week, or according to the Montreal definition, or diagnosed by a clinician. Temporal and geographic trends in disease prevalence were examined using a Poisson regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  16 studies of GERD epidemiology published since the original review were found to be suitable for inclusion (15 reporting prevalence and one reporting incidence), and were added to the 13 prevalence and two incidence studies found previously. The range of GERD prevalence estimates was 18.1%-27.8% in North America, 8.8%-25.9% in Europe, 2.5%-7.8% in East Asia, 8.7%-33.1% in the Middle East, 11.6% in Australia and 23.0% in South America. Incidence per 1000 person-years was approximately 5 in the overall UK and US populations, and 0.84 in paediatric patients aged 1-17 years in the UK. Evidence suggests an increase in GERD prevalence since 1995 (p<0.0001), particularly in North America and East Asia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GERD is prevalent worldwide, and disease burden may be increasing. Prevalence estimates show considerable geographic variation, but only East Asia shows estimates consistently lower than 10%.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152), , Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Hashem B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: El-Serag
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Winchester
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dent
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Epidemiology; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease