| [ Summary ] |
There has been a remarkable increase in the number of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Japan since the late 1990s. Recent estimates show that the prevalence of GERD in Japan is approximately 10 %. The increase in the number of patients presenting with GERD could be attributed to several factors such as an increase in gastric acid secretion, decrease in the Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection rate, westernization of lifestyle, increased awareness regarding this disease entity, and advances in the concept of GERD. Non‒erosive reflux disease (NERD) accounts for approximately 60 % of all cases of GERD, and most patients presenting with reflux esophagitis show a mild type of disease, which can be categorized as Los Angeles classification grade A or B. Several risk factors associated with GERD including obesity, hiatal hernia, older age, and mild atrophic gastritis have been reported. Gastric acid secretion in the Japanese population has not changed significantly over 20 years since the 1990s ; however, because of reduced prevalence of Hp infection, it is likely that a greater number of patients would be diagnosed with GERD in the future. Although the prevalence rate of GERD in other countries globally has seemingly begun to plateau, the trends of GERD in Japan require continuous monitoring. |