A Common Disease

GERD affects up to 40% of the U.S. population in their lifetime([FOOTNOTE=Vaezi M, Zehrai A, Yuksel E. Testing for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, ASGE Leading Edge. 2012;2(2):1-13.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])  and is part of an increasingly significant public health burden. Many patients think GERD is a harmless symptom and do not understand the risks associated with chronic acid reflux.

Progressing to Barrett's Esophagus

When GERD is not properly managed, it can lead to Barrett's esophagus. The lifetime risk of progression from GERD to Barrett's esophagus is 26.5%.([FOOTNOTE=Dymedex Market Development Consulting, GERD Sizing and Segmentation for pH Testing, February 13, 2015.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]) Early diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophagus is especially crucial because it is the primary risk factor for esophageal cancer.2,([FOOTNOTE=Gilbert EW, Luna RA, Harrison VL, Hunter JG. Barrett's esophagus: a review of the literature. J Gastrointest Surg. 2011;15:708-18.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]),([FOOTNOTE=Pohl H, Welch HG. The role of over diagnosis and reclassification in the marked increase of esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005;97:142-6.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]),([FOOTNOTE=National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer.],[ANCHOR=https://www.cancer.gov/types/esophageal/patient/esophageal-treatment-pdq#section/all],[LINK=https://www.cancer.gov/types/esophageal/patient/esophageal-treatment-pdq#section/all]),([FOOTNOTE=Dymedex Market Development Consulting, Strategic Market Assessment: Barrx-GI, October 30, 2014.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]),([FOOTNOTE=De Jonge PJ, van Blankenstein M, Looman CW, Casparie MK, Meijer GA, Kuipers EJ. Risk of malignant progression in patients with Barrett's oesophagus: a Dutch nationwide cohort study. Gut. 2010;59:1030-6.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]),([FOOTNOTE=Hvid-Jensen F, Pedersen L, Drewes AM, Sorensen HT, Funch-Jensen P. Incidence of adenocarcinoma among patients with Barrett's esophagus. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1375-83.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])