Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is described as the chronic symptoms and/or tissue damage caused by the reflux of abnormal gastric contents to the esophagus. GERD is a common disease, with associated typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation.

An article to be published on March 28, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology evaluated the clinical and endoscopic features in Chinese patients with reflux esophagitis. This study was conducted by Dr. Wei Li of the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated with the Capital Medical University.

Of 18,823 patients undergoing endoscopic examination, 1,405 (895 male and 510 female) patients were diagnosed as having reflux esophagitis, with a detection rate of 7.46% (male 9.13% and female 5.65%). The ratio of male to female patients was 1.75:1, with a significant difference. The age of onset was 15¨C89 years, with the mean age of 54.56 ¡À 14.19 years. The mean age of male and female patients was 53.82 ¡À 14.19 and 55.85 ¡À 14.08 years, respectively, with significant difference. The peak age of onset was 40¨C60 years for patients with reflux esophagitis. According to Los Angeles Classification, patients with grade A and B accounted for 90.1% of all patients. There were significant differences in the ages of patients with A and B compared with patients with grade C and D. A total of 277 patients were infected with H pylori , with a significantly decreased infection rate. Of the 1405 patients, 195 patients had associated esophageal hiatal hernia. Combination with esophageal hiatal hernia was not associated with the presence of H pylori infection and gender, but was significantly associated with the severity of esophagitis and age.

The results and conclusions demonstrated the peak age of onset was 40¨C60 years for patients with reflux esophagitis, with more male patients than female ones. The mean age of onset is lower in males than females. The infection rate of H pylori is significantly decreased in patients with esophagitis, but the severity of patients with esophagitis is not associated with H pylori infection. Old age and combination with esophageal hiatal hernia were associated with more severe esophagitis. Right esophageal mucosal damage can occur more often in patients with reflux esophagitis.