Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Prevalence, Clinical, Endoscopic and Histopathological Findings in 1,128 Consecutive Patients Referred for Endoscopy due to Dyspeptic and Reflux Symptoms

Abstract

The correlation between reflux symptoms and endoscopy-positive GERD is poor and most GERD patients aged <50 years have endoscopy-negative GERD. The use of NSAIDs is a risk factor for GERD, whereas chronic gastritis, but not H. pylori infection, may protect against GERD. Incomplete intestinal metaplasia at the gastroesophageal junction is associated with GERD.