Abstract
We conducted a epidemiological survey in 2, 595 patients who underwent endoscopy for the first time, confirming that Barrett's mucosa was observed in 536 (20.8%) of 2, 577 patients. The length of Barrett's mucosa was significantly longer in female patients than that in male patients. No correlation was observed between the prevalence of Barrett's mucosa and age group. Meanwhile, correlations were observed between the presence or absence of Barrett's mucosa and heartburn, and between the length of Barrett's mucosa and the severity of ref lux esophagitis or esophageal hiatus hernia. In addition, atrophic gastritis affected length of Barrett's mucosa. These findings suggested that ref lux esophagitis played an important role for the occurrence of Barrett mucosa. However, the prevalence of typical Barrett's esophagus was markedly low in the Japanese compared with Westerner. It is necessary to standardize the definition of Barrett's mucosa and accumulate the evidence based on the diagnostic criterian.
