title: The evolution and outcome of surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus over four decades in a UK District General Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present the long-term outcome of Barrett's oesophagus (BO) at a District General Hospital set against the increasing numbers of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected prospectively over 37 years. Comparison of GORD without Barrett's (NoBO) versus BO was performed from 1/1/1977 to 31/12/2001 when the NoBO database closed and outcomes of all cases of BO diagnosed until 31/12/2011 and followed up until 31/12/2013 have been reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period 1977-2001 the number of GORD NoBO cases was 11 610, and that of BO cases was 764 (6.2% of all GORD); total number of BO cases in 1977-2011 was 1468. NoBO patients were younger than BO patients: 52.2 versus 61.6 years. There was a male predominance in both groups: NoBO 55% and BO 62% (P<0.0001). The prevalence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) was 87/1468 (5.9%) BO cases. Its incidence was 54/1381 (3.9%); the mean interval between the diagnosis of BO and incident OAC was 9 years (range 13 months-25.4 years); there was one OAC per 192 patient-years of follow-up (0.52% per year). Mortality was significantly lower in 37 patients under endoscopic surveillance at the time OAC was diagnosed (51 vs. 88% P=0.0141) partly because of older age and comorbidity of the other 17, in whom serial endoscopy was contraindicated. A proportional hazards model to allow for age estimated that the hazard rate ratio was lower in the surveillance group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.30-1.48, P=0.08). Excluding prevalent cancers from both groups, mortality in BO was double that in NoBO (47 vs. 24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These 37 years of observation suggest, but do not confirm, that endoscopic surveillance may reduce the risk of death from OAC. Modern technology is likely to yield better results, but larger prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefits.
authors: aDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham bUK National Barrett's Oesophagus Registry, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, Royal Free Hospital cDepartment of Statistics, Modelling and Economics, Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Royston
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Caygill
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: Charlett
authors: Karna Dev
authors: KD
authors: Bardhan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors