March 29, 2016
via: journalsblog.gastro.org
“Statin use after a diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma, but not esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, reduces esophageal cancer–specific and all-cause mortality, researchers report in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
Esophageal cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death in men and eighth most common cause in women, worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) are the most common histologic subtype worldwide, but the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased rapidly since the 1970s and the most common form in the West. Fewer than 20% of patients with esophageal cancer survive for 5 years.
Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) are cholesterol-lowering drugs that have also been reported to have anti-cancer effects. Statin use after diagnosis has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality in from prostate, breast, and colorectal carcinomas. Statins were also found to reduce risk of liver cancer.
Statin use has been inversely associated with the development of the histologic subtypes of esophageal cancers. However, it is not clear whether statin use after a diagnosis of esophageal cancer prolongs survival, or has different effects on EAC vs ESCC.
Leo Alexandre et al sought to determine whether statin use after a diagnosis of esophageal cancer reduced cancer-specific and all-cause mortality in a large cohort (4445 men and women) in the United Kingdom. They collected their data from the United Kingdom General Practice Research database, the UK National Cancer Registry, and the Office of National Statistics database.”
To read more about the findings, visit: journalsblog.gastro.org
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Posted by salgiblogs
March 7, 2016
In February of 2016, Mark Campbell and his family started an online fundraiser supporting our foundation in memory of his sister, Bonnie Pavlasky, who passed away from esophageal cancer.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is honored to carry out this mission in memory of Bonnie and we are very appreciative of her family and friends for creating it and donating in her name. Below is an excerpt from the fundraising page:
“Bonnie passed away on January 30, 2016 after putting up a valiant fight for two and a half years. While she was initially diagnosed with esophageal cancer, it spread throughout her body despite her doctors’ best efforts. She fought to the very end and never gave up mentally. Unfortunately, her body could not keep pace with her. Bonnie Pavlasky was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.
Once Bonnie began exhibiting signs of esophageal cancer, even her primary care physician mistook them for something else, most likely because she appeared to be a young, healthy woman. While of course the hope is that a cure for the disease will be found someday, the goal of educating people on early detection and lifestyle changes to prevent esophageal cancer is a worthy one.”
Bonnie with husband Rob, daughter Stephanie, and son Joey.
Bonnie with husband, Rob.
Esophageal cancer is considered one of the fastest growing and deadliest cancers in the United States and other western countries. Unfortunately, this means that it is increasingly affecting both men and women of all ages and ethnicities.
Bonnie Pavlasky.
As Mark stated above, Bonnie did not “fit the mold” when it came to a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Often times, doctors will not even think of esophageal cancer, despite patients showing symptoms of esophageal cancer, since these patients do not fit the demographics they feel are “typical” of esophageal cancer (older Caucasian males).
This leads to many becoming diagnosed in later stages when the cancer has progressed and becomes difficult, if not impossible, to treat.
It is our hope that you will share Bonnie’s story and encourage all of your family and friends to do so as well. We also ask that you join us in thanking Bonnie’s family and friends and share their page to help raise awareness and honor Bonnie.
To visit their fundraising page, please click here. Thank you!
https://www.crowdrise.com/inmemoryofbonniepavlasky
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Posted by salgiblogs
March 3, 2016
Via: Kyforward.com
Louisville, KY– “University of Louisville School of Dentistry researchers have found a bacterial species responsible for gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is present in 61 percent of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
The findings, published recently in Infectious Agents and Cancer, only detected P. gingivalis in 12 percent of tissues adjacent to the cancerous cells, while this organism was undetected in normal esophageal tissue.
“These findings provide the first direct evidence that P. gingivalis infection could be a novel risk factor for ESCC, and may also serve as a prognostic biomarker for this type of cancer,” said Huizhi Wang, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of oral immunology and infectious diseases at the UofL School of Dentistry. “These data, if confirmed, indicate that eradication of a common oral pathogen may contribute to a reduction in the significant number of people suffering with ESCC.”
The esophagus, a muscular tube critical to the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach, is lined with two main kinds of cells, thus there are two main types of esophageal cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The latter is more common in developing countries.
In collaboration with the College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology in Luoyang, China, Wang and his UofL colleagues Richard J. Lamont, Ph.D., Jan Potempa, Ph.D., D.Sc., and David A. Scott, Ph.D., tested tissue samples from 100 patients with ESCC and 30 normal controls.”
To read more about the findings from the research team at UofL School of Dentistry, click here.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Posted by salgiblogs
November 19, 2015
“Chronic heartburn may be more than just a pain in the esophagus.”
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather together, share thanks and enjoy a delicious feast. The week of Thanksgiving is also dedicated to bringing awareness to a growing disease which affects one out of five Americans.
That disease is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Also known as acid reflux disease, GERD is a condition of the digestive system, which has increased significantly in recent decades.
GERD is also a primary risk factor for esophageal cancer, one of the fastest growing and deadliest cancers in the United States. Esophageal cancer, similar to GERD, has also increased significantly in past decades. In fact, incidence of esophageal cancer has risen over 600% and with an overall five-year survival rate of only 17.5%.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, a nonprofit which awarded its very first grant to esophageal cancer research earlier this year, is working to once again bring awareness of the dangerous link between GERD and esophageal cancer.
Heartburn, a common symptom of GERD, does not typically cause major concern, as billions of Americans experience it at some point in their lives. However, persistent heartburn, which occurs two or more times a week, should not be taken lightly as it could be a symptom of the disease.
President of The Salgi Foundation knows all too well the dangers of heartburn and acid reflux. “My father suffered from chronic heartburn for years and was never warned by doctors of the possible risks. We found out too late, once he started having difficulty swallowing, that his chronic reflux had led to esophageal cancer.” She continued, “My father passed away a little over a year after he was diagnosed and it was, and still is, devastating.”
Many chronic heartburn sufferers turn to antacids or other medications for relief. Some medications, known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), work to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. These medications treat the symptoms of GERD but not the disease.
A poll conducted by RefluxMD, a San Diego, CA, based Internet healthcare company, focused on helping people suffering from reflux, showed that the majority of patients who were prescribed PPIs by their doctors were never told the medications “only treated symptoms, but that reflux would continue and the disease could progress” and were also never told “there were potential negative side effects (e.g. osteoporosis, bacterial infections, etc.”).
According to RefluxMD, PPIs are overprescribed and although long-term use of PPIs daily may reduce or eliminate symptoms, they do not stop the flow of stomach contents into the esophagus. Consequently, GERD can progress and potentially lead to Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.”
Unfortunately, esophageal cancer has few, if any, early symptoms. Symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, chronic cough or hoarseness, food getting stuck or choking while eating often occur once the cancer has spread and reaches an advanced stage.
To make matters even worse, there are currently no routine or standard screenings to detect esophageal cancer in its earliest stages. The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation encourages those who suffer from reflux to be proactive about their health, stating “never ignore frequent heartburn and never rely on medications alone. Talk to your doctor about all of your options, especially how you can get screened for any possible damage.”
Please join us in raising awareness of the dangerous link between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and esophageal cancer!
Share this post and please feel free to share the images below on social media! The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube.
The more awareness we raise about risk factors and symptoms of esophageal cancer and the importance of early detection, the more lives that can potentially be saved!
Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright 2015 Salgi.org
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Posted by salgiblogs
November 5, 2015
In November, 2014, Richard Huston and his family started a “Beards for Bruce” campaign in support of his father-in-law, Bruce and his battle with esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, in September of this year, Bruce lost his gallant fight with esophageal cancer. Richard said that last year Bruce was “overwhelmed by the love and support demonstrated by family, friends and those who didn’t even know him.”
This year, the family continues the campaign and Richard plans to continue “Beards for Bruce” every November in memory of Bruce to promote early detection of esophageal cancer and to help raise awareness and donations in hopes that someday, they will find a cure.”
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is honored to fulfill this mission in honor of Bruce and we thank all of Bruce’s family and friends who participate and support the “Beards for Bruce” campaign. Below is an excerpt from the “Beards for Bruce” fundraising website, created by Richard and his family. Please join us in thanking Bruce’s family and friends for supporting this cause and help them in their mission to raise much needed funding for esophageal cancer awareness and research by sharing their fundraising website. Thank you!
Bruce Reavill was a proud Husband, Father, and Grandfather that always made his family the number one priority in his life. He was also my (Richard Huston) Father in Law who was an amazing mentor, father figure, and the head of the family. An absolutely amazing man that seemed to never meet a stranger and left a positive impact every where he would go and with everyone he would meet. He raised two amazing and beautiful daughters; from countless family vacations when they were young to the two of them graduating college and continuing on in life with successful careers and eventually starting their own families. Needless to say he was a very proud father and Grandfather.
In 2013 Bruce and his lovely wife Sandy decided it was time to find that perfect retirement home in a desert oasis. After careful consideration and many options they elected to move to Buckeye, Arizona. This is where they would build the home they always wanted with a pool, room for the grandchildren to visit, and their own souped up golf cart that provided them their number one form of transportation. Surrounded by the beauty of the desert, the elimination of Minnesota winter, and the beautiful Cooper Canyon golf course was the life of retirement that Bruce and Sandy had worked so hard in life for.
Unfortunately after a few short months in Arizona Bruce noticed that he was having trouble swallowing. Initially Bruce put it off as a bad case of heartburn or indigestion; he realized it was not going away and would warrant a trip to the doctor’s office. This trip to the doctor changed Bruce’s life forever as he heard the words “you have esophageal cancer”. The impact on Bruce and our family was immediate and very real. Bruce is one of the strongest and most loving men I have ever known in my lifetime. He has set the bar of how a man should be in life never wavering from what is right, what is best for his family, and his strong believe in his faith in God.
After completing weeks of chemotherapy, radiation, and a very difficult surgery we had thought he was clear of this horrible decease. At his 90 day post exam his PET scan revealed that the cancer had now spread to other parts of his body to include his throat, liver, and bones. The reality of being so far away from family during this very difficult time had taken its toll. So this past winter Bruce and Sandy decided to move back to Minnesota where they could be closer to friends and family. Bruce vowed that he would be Warrior through this process and fight with all his heart.
Bruce would continue chemotherapy, more radiation, and almost daily trips to the doctor’s office. Bruce was a true warrior, a fighter, and a champion who gave it his all with the pride and style that only Bruce could. Unfortunately in September Bruce lost his gallant fight with esophageal cancer. He was a great man that was loved by so many and who will always be missed from this earth.
Last year I organized the Beards for Bruce campaign in support of Bruce’s battle with Cancer. Bruce was overwhelmed by the love and support demonstrated by family, friends and those who didn’t even know him. Many of you participated, donated, and provided support for Bruce last year. For some of you, this may be the first time reading Bruce’s story. I plan to continue Beards for Bruce every November in memory of Bruce to promote early detection of Esophageal Cancer and to help raise awareness and donations in hopes that some day they will find a cure.
I am reaching out and asking for your support in Bruce’s memory and to further esophageal cancer research. For all of you who can take part in growing some facial hair in the month of November, let’s grow out our beards, mustaches, goatees, or in honor of Bruce’s younger years a horseshoe mustache (handle bars) to raise cancer awareness.
We have elected to have all donations to go to The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation. All donations go directly to raise awareness, encourage early detection and to fund research of esophageal cancer…in hopes of a cure.™
I hope you will support me and my family in effort to reach my goal by using the links provided for donations.
Thank you for your love and support!
To visit the “Beards for Bruce” fundraising page, please click here: https://www.crowdrise.com/beardsforbruce/fundraiser/rickhuston
https://www.crowdrise.com/beardsforbruce/fundraiser/rickhuston
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Posted by salgiblogs
October 13, 2015
When Dustin Hass ran his first marathon, the Portland Half Marathon, with his wife on October 4, 2009, his mother, Diane Hass and her husband, John “Jack” Arnold, came to watch and cheer them on.
Now, four years later, Dustin ran the Portland Half Marathon again but this time, in honor of Jack Arnold, who passed away from complications related to esophageal cancer on July 31, 2015.
Dustin created an online fundraiser benefiting The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation and writes on the site that he “chose to do a charity entry in his honor and to help raise awareness about esophageal cancer.”
On October 4, 2015, which also happens to be Diane’s birthday, Dustin ran a personal best of 1:40:05 and placed 10th in his division. He also surpassed his initial fundraising goal of $650, raising over $1,100.00 for The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, which will bring awareness to esophageal cancer and fund research.
Dustin writes of Jack: “He will be missed dearly by our family and many others. He did so much to help our family and he was a loving companion to my mother.” Diane, who planned a trip back to Portland to watch Dustin run the half-marathon this year, was there to celebrate with her son after the race.
On behalf of The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, we would like to thank Dustin for bringing awareness to esophageal cancer and raising much needed funds for awareness and research!
Join us on our Facebook page to congratulate Dustin on running his personal best and far exceeding his fundraising goal in honor of Jack Arnold. Thank you, Dustin!
Dustin Hass and his mother, Diane Hass at the 2015 Portland Half Marathon. Raising awareness and research funding for esophageal cancer. Image courtesy of: Dustin Hass. All rights reserved.
For more information about esophageal cancer and how you can get involved and make a difference, visit the following:
–Facts & Information
–Ways To Help
–Make A Donation
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Posted by salgiblogs
September 14, 2015
Article via Oncologynurseadvisor.com | September 11, 2015
“A nurse-led walk-and-eat intervention is feasible and effective to preserve functional walking capacity and nutritional status in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, according to a recent study published in the journal The Oncologist.
For the study, researchers at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, sought to evaluate the impact of a walk-and-eat intervention in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer stage 2B or higher receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. A total of 59 participants were randomly assigned to receive the intervention, which involved nurse-supervised walking 3 times per week and weekly nutritional advice, or usual care during 4 to 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy.
Results showed that those who received the intervention had a 100-meter less decline in walk distance than control patients, 3-kg less decrease in hand-grip strength, and 2.7-kg less reduction in body weight. Researchers found that the patients’ age did not impact these endpoints.
The study also demonstrated that patients that received the walk-and-eat intervention had significantly lower rates of need for intravenous nutritional support and wheelchair use.”
Read the full article: http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Posted by salgiblogs
July 28, 2015
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation has issued its first round of funding for esophageal cancer research earlier this month.
The foundation awarded program director, Dr. Carlos Minacapelli and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnston Medical School grant funding.
In 2011, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation was established to raise awareness, encourage early detection and to fund research of esophageal cancer. Since 2011, the foundation has both raised awareness and encouraged the importance of earliest possible detection throughout New England, across the United States and internationally.
“The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is excited to be a part of Dr. Minacapelli’s and Rutger’s research efforts in honor of all the brave men and women who were affected by esophageal cancer and to hopefully reduce incidence and improve outcomes for individuals in the future” President of the foundation stated.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation would like to thank all of our supporters and donors who believe in this mission and who make these accomplishments possible. However, this is just the beginning. We received many other research requests that we were unable to fund at this time. We need to continue our efforts to fundraise so that we may continue to fund research.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD or acid reflux disease, of which the most common symptom is chronic heartburn, is one of the primary risk factors associated with esophageal cancer. Other risk factors include obesity, poor nutrition and smoking. With over a 600% increase in the past decades, esophageal cancer is among the fastest growing and deadliest cancers in the United States and western world.
Currently, there are no standard or routine screenings to detect esophageal cancer in earlier stages. Symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, typically appear once the cancer has become advanced and the overall five-year survival rate is only 17.5%. Despite its rapid increase and poor prognosis, esophageal cancer receives very little awareness and research funding.
To make a tax-deductible donation to The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, please visit: SALGI.org/donate.
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Posted by salgiblogs
July 21, 2015
“A ‘pill on a string’ developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge could help doctors detect esophageal cancer at an early stage, helping them overcome the problem of wide variation between biopsies, suggests research published today in the journal Nature Genetics.
The ‘Cytosponge’ sits within a pill which, when swallowed, dissolves to reveal a sponge that scrapes off cells when withdrawn up the esophagus. It allows doctors to collect cells from all along the esophagus, whereas standard biopsies take individual point samples.
Esophageal cancer is often preceded by Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which cells within the lining of the esophagus begin to change shape and can grow abnormally. The cellular changes are cause by acid and bile reflux – when the stomach juices come back up the esophagus. Between one and five people in every 100 with Barrett’s esophagus go on to develop esophageal cancer in their life-time, a form of cancer that can be difficult to treat, particularly if not caught early enough.
At present, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer are diagnosed using biopsies, which look for signs of dysplasia, the proliferation of abnormal cancer cells. This is a subjective process, requiring a trained scientist to identify abnormalities. Understanding how esophageal cancer develops and the genetic mutations involved could help doctors catch the disease earlier, offering better treatment options for the patient.
An alternative way of spotting very early signs of esophageal cancer would be to look for important genetic changes. However, researchers from the University of Cambridge have shown that variations in mutations across the esophagus mean that standard biopsies may miss cells with important mutations. A sample was more likely to pick up key mutations if taken using the Cytosponge, developed by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald at the Medical Research Council Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge.
“The trouble with Barrett’s esophagus is that it looks bland and might span over 10cm,” explains Professor Fitzgerald. “We created a map of mutations in a patient with the condition and found that within this stretch, there is a great deal of variation amongst cells. Some might carry an important mutation, but many will not. If you’re taking a biopsy, this relies on your hitting the right spot. Using the Cytosponge appears to remove some of this game of chance.”
Professor Fitzgerald and colleagues carried out whole genome sequencing to analyse paired Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer samples taken at one point in time from 23 patients, as well as 73 samples taken over a three-year period from one patient with Barrett’s esophagus.
The researchers found patterns of mutations in the genome – where one ‘letter’ of DNA might change to another, for example from a C to a T – that provided a ‘fingerprint’ of the causes of the cancer. Similar work has been done previously in lung cancer, where it was shown that cigarettes leave fingerprints in an individual’s DNA. The Cambridge team found fingerprints which they believe are likely to be due to the damage caused to the lining of the esophagus by stomach acid splashing onto its walls; the same fingerprints could be seen in both Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer, suggest that these changes occur very early on the process.
Even in areas of Barrett’s esophagus without cancer, the researchers found a large number of mutations in their tissue – on average 12,000 per person (compared to an average of 18,000 mutations within the cancer). Many of these are likely to have been ‘bystanders’, genetic mutations that occurred along the way but that were not actually implicated in cancer.
The researchers found that there appeared to be a tipping point, where a patient would go from having lots of individual mutations, but no cancer, to a situation where large pieces of genetic information were being transferred not just between genes but between chromosomes.
Co-author Dr Caryn Ross-Innes adds: “We know very little about how you go from pre-cancer to cancer – and this is particularly the case in esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus and the cancer share many mutations, but we are now a step closer to understanding which are the important mutations that tip the condition over into a potentially deadly form of cancer.”
Source: University of Cambridge
Reference: Ross-Innes, CS et al. Whole-genome sequencing provides new insights into the clonal architecture of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Nature Genetics; 20 July 2015
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Leave a Comment » | The Salgi Foundation - Esophageal Cancer Awareness, Early Detection & Research | Tagged: acid, acid reflux, acid reflux disease, acid reflux drugs, acid reflux medication, awareness, barrett's, barrett's esophagus, cancer, cancer of the esophagus, cancer run, cancer walk, charity, diet, disease, drugs, esophageal, esophageal cancer, esophageal cancer awareness, esophageal cancer research, esophagus, exercise, fit, fitness, food, gastroenterology, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, gerd, health, health news, healthy., heartburn, heartburn medication, heartburn sufferer, heartburn symptoms, lifestyle, medication, news, nutrition, obesity, ppi, reflux disease, rhode island, ri, silent reflux | Permalink
Posted by salgiblogs
July 17, 2015
GASTROENTEROLOGY & ENDOSCOPY NEWS
“The incidence of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) among relatively young people has surged in recent years, an analysis of a large health care database has found.
The study, of 50 million unique patient records between 2008 and 2013, showed that while the absolute incidence remains low among people younger than age 55 years, the share of cases in that group climbed sharply over the five-year period. Meanwhile, cases of BE among people over age 55 fell, suggesting a demographic shift in the disease with potentially important implications for screening, according to the researchers. As a precancerous condition, BE may be more dangerous in younger patients because of the longer time for the abnormal cells to progress to malignancy.
“The increase in the rate of BE was particularly high in the age group of 25 to 34 years,” said Sasan Sakiani, MD, of the Division of Gastroenterology at MetroHealth Medical Center, in Cleveland, and a study co-author.
Ronnie Fass, MD, director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MetroHealth, who helped conduct the study, said more research is needed to identify the underlying basis for the trend.
“The impetus behind the study was the growing number of younger patients with GERD [gastroesophageal reflux disease]-related symptoms who were diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus in our clinic,” Dr. Fass said. “It was important for us to further assess this trend because of the important impact it will likely have on our current guidelines for BE screening.”
Dr. Sakiani’s group presented the findings at Digestive Disease Week 2015 (abstract SA1881). The researchers analyzed the Explorys database, which includes data from 317,000 providers admitting patients to 360 hospitals in the United States. The database was initially surveyed by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition code for GERD, symptoms of heartburn and other risk factors for BE. The researchers conducted additional analyses to find patients who underwent endoscopy and received a diagnosis of BE between 2008 and 2013, to establish an annual incidence by patient age, sex and race.
“There was a steady increase in both the number of endoscopic procedures performed each year and the incidence of BE,” Dr. Sakiani said. By 2013, the number of endoscopies had risen to 201,140 from 79,040 in 2008, while the incidence of BE increased from 1,970 to 4,269 over that period.”
Read the full article, here.
Bosworth, Ted. “Barrett’s Esophagus Appears To Be Spiking in Younger Patients.” Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News – Web. 17 July 2015.
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