Epidemiology
Every year GERD affects approximately 4.5 per 1000 persons in the United Kingdom and 5.4 per 1000 persons in the United States. It is possible, given the limitations of the relevant studies, that these figures may be larger than estimated. There are no data that support sex predominance with regard to GERD.
In Western populations, the prevalence range for GERD is 10% to 20% of the population. For instance, an estimated 3.4 million to 6.8 million Canadians are GERD sufferers. The prevalence rate of GERD in developed nations is also tightly linked with age, with adults aged 60 to 70 being the most commonly affected. The combination of longer life expectancy and aging populations in the developed world is expected to lead to an increase in GERD prevalence in the years to come.
Read more about this topic: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease