Epidemiological Studies and Risk Factor Analysis of GERD in Xiamen City

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition characterized by the reflux of gastric and duodenal contents into the esophagus, primarily manifested by symptoms such as acid regurgitation and heartburn. GERD significantly affects patients' daily lives and health-related quality of life. Prolonged gastroesophageal reflux can lead to repeated irritation of the esophageal mucosa by gastric acid and acidic gastric contents, resulting in the replacement of normal squamous epithelium in the lower esophagus with metaplastic columnar epithelium. This pathological change, known as Barrett's Esophagus (BE), is considered a precancerous lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma.