title: Epidemiology of eosinophilic esophagitis.
abstract: In this article, the epidemiology of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is reviewed. Demographic features and natural history are described, the prevalence and incidence of EoE are highlighted, and risk factors for EoE are discussed. EoE can occur at any age, there is a male predominance, it is more common in whites, and there is a strong association with atopic diseases. EoE is chronic, relapses are frequent, and persistent inflammation increases the risk of fibrostenotic complications. The prevalence is currently estimated at 0.5-1 in 1000, and EoE is now the most common cause of food impaction. The incidence of EoE is approximately 1/10,000 new cases per year, and the increase in incidence is outpacing increases in recognition and endoscopy volume, but the reasons for this evolving epidemiology are not yet fully delineated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing and Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, CB#7080, Bioinformatics Building, 130 Mason Farm Road, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7080, USA. Electronic address: edellon@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Evan S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dellon
mesh_terms: D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Eosinophilic esophagitis; Epidemiology; Incidence; Natural history; Prevalence; Risk factors