TY - JOUR
T1 - Gastroesophageal reflux among different racial groups in the United States
AU - El-Serag, Hashem B.
AU - Petersen, Nancy J.
AU - Carter, Junaia
AU - Graham, David Y.
AU - Richardson, Peter
AU - Genta, Robert M.
AU - Rabeneck, Linda
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by grants from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Janssen-Eisai Pharmaceuticals (to H.B.E.). H.B.E. is a VA HSR&D awardee (RCD 00-013-2).
PY - 2004/6
Y1 - 2004/6
N2 - Background & Aims: White people in the United States are several-fold more affected by esophageal adenocarcinoma than black people. It remains unknown whether this racial discrepancy reflects a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms or a higher degree of esophageal damage. Methods: A cross-sectional survey followed by endoscopy was performed among employees at a VA medical center. The association between race and GERD symptoms and erosive esophagitis was analyzed in logistic regression analyses controlling for demographic, clinical, and histologic variables. Results: A total of 496 of 915 people (54%) returned interpretable questionnaires, and endoscopy was performed in 215 participants. The mean age was 45 years, and 336 (68%) were women. Racial distribution was 43% black, 34% white, and 23% other races. Heartburn occurring at least weekly was reported in 27%, 23%, and 24% of these racial groups, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of heartburn or regurgitation was not significantly different among the groups. Erosive esophagitis was found in 50 of 215 participants (23%); 31 of these cases were mild. Only one person had Barrett's esophagus (0.4%). For weekly heartburn or regurgitation, black participants had significantly less frequent erosive esophagitis than white participants (24% vs. 50%; P = 0.03). With multiple adjustments, black participants had a persistently lower risk of esophagitis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.22-0.46; P < 0.001). Conclusions: White and black people in the United States have a similarly high prevalence of GERD symptoms. However, black people have a lower prevalence of esophagitis for the same frequency of GERD symptoms Barrett's esophagus was rare in this study, even among those with frequent symptoms.
AB - Background & Aims: White people in the United States are several-fold more affected by esophageal adenocarcinoma than black people. It remains unknown whether this racial discrepancy reflects a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms or a higher degree of esophageal damage. Methods: A cross-sectional survey followed by endoscopy was performed among employees at a VA medical center. The association between race and GERD symptoms and erosive esophagitis was analyzed in logistic regression analyses controlling for demographic, clinical, and histologic variables. Results: A total of 496 of 915 people (54%) returned interpretable questionnaires, and endoscopy was performed in 215 participants. The mean age was 45 years, and 336 (68%) were women. Racial distribution was 43% black, 34% white, and 23% other races. Heartburn occurring at least weekly was reported in 27%, 23%, and 24% of these racial groups, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of heartburn or regurgitation was not significantly different among the groups. Erosive esophagitis was found in 50 of 215 participants (23%); 31 of these cases were mild. Only one person had Barrett's esophagus (0.4%). For weekly heartburn or regurgitation, black participants had significantly less frequent erosive esophagitis than white participants (24% vs. 50%; P = 0.03). With multiple adjustments, black participants had a persistently lower risk of esophagitis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.22-0.46; P < 0.001). Conclusions: White and black people in the United States have a similarly high prevalence of GERD symptoms. However, black people have a lower prevalence of esophagitis for the same frequency of GERD symptoms Barrett's esophagus was rare in this study, even among those with frequent symptoms.
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U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2004.03.077
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2004.03.077
M3 - Article
C2 - 15188164
AN - SCOPUS:2942617031
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 126
SP - 1692
EP - 1699
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 7
ER -