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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffFactors that increase your risk of Barrett's esophagus include:
- Chronic heartburn and acid reflux. Having these symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more than 10 years can increase the risk of Barrett's esophagus. Stomach acid that backs up into your esophagus if you have GERD can damage the esophageal tissue, causing the changes that signal Barrett's esophagus.
- Being a man. Men are more likely to develop Barrett's esophagus.
- Being white or Hispanic. White and Hispanic people have a greater risk of the disease than do African-American people.
- Being an older adult. Barrett's esophagus is more common in older adults, but it can occur at any age.
References
- Rich HG. Barrett's esophagus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/145544773-3/0/1701/0.html. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Wang KK, et al. Updated guidelines 2008 for the diagnosis, surveillance and therapy of Barrett's esophagus. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2008;103:788.
- Azodo IA, et al. Barrett's esophagus. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/barretts.asp. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Shaheen NJ, et al. Barrett's oesophagus. The Lancet. 2009;373:850.
- Barrett's esophagus. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddieases/pubs/barretts/index.htm. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Crockett SD, et al. Health-related quality of life in patients with Barrett's esophagus: A systematic review. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2009;7:613.
- Waxman I, et al. Mucosal ablation of Barrett esophagus. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. In press. http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nrgastro.2009.90.html. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Sharma P, et al. Management of nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus: Where are we now? American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;104:805.
- HALO 360 System. Barrx Medical, Inc. http://www.barrx.com/Patients_and_Families/index.cfm/421. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/index.htm. Accessed June 29, 2009.
