International Research Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic disorder that affects all races, however, the prevalence varies in different parts of the world. Highest prevalence occurs in the United States and is thought to be uncommon in Africans and Asians. GERD can also present with extra-esophageal manifestation.

Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of GERD, the various esophageal mucosal lesions seen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and the risk factors associated with it.                                           

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done over a period of 15 months at the endoscopy unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital in which consenting adult patients 18 years and above with clinical diagnosis of GERD diagnosed using Carlsson-Dent questionnaire had (EGD) and any esophageal mucosal lesions was noted and biopsies of suspicious lesions taken for histologys.

Results: Three hundred and nineteen patients were enrolled and the prevalence of GERD was 26.5%, 61(19.2%) had erosive esophagitis (EE), 5(1.6%) Barrett’s esophagus (BE), 8(2.5%) Hiatus hernia (HH), 2(0.6%) esophageal cancer and 243(76.1%) non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). GERD was common in older age and had equal distribution in both males and females. Alcohol, obesity and NSAIDs were risk factors for erosive esophagitis, while caffeine, CCBs and cigarette were not.

Conclusion: Our study showed that NERD constituted majority of the patients with clinical diagnosis of GERD at endoscopy while erosive esophagitis was the commonest lesion seen and Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer were rare.