据最佳估算,在总人口中 Barrett 食管的患病率是 1.6%。[6]Ronkainen J, Aro P, Storskrubb T, et al. Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in the general population: an endoscopic study. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:1825-1831.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16344051?tool=bestpractice.com在过去几年中男性食管腺癌发生率翻了 4 倍,这可能与胃食管反流的发病率升高有关。[7]Spechler SJ. Clinical practice. Barrett's esophagus. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:836-842.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11893796?tool=bestpractice.com瑞典一项以验证胃肠道症状评定量表 (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) 为目的的研究,随机选取 1000 名个体,对其进行内镜检查。[6]Ronkainen J, Aro P, Storskrubb T, et al. Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in the general population: an endoscopic study. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:1825-1831.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16344051?tool=bestpractice.com在有反流症状的患者中 Barrett 食管的总体患病率为 2.3%,而在无症状的个体中,患病率为 1.4%。另一项研究显示,在主诉有反流症状的患者中,13.2% 存在 Barrett 食管。[8]Westhoff B, Brotze S, Weston A, et al. The frequency of Barrett's esophagus in high-risk patients with chronic GERD. Gastrointest Endosc. 2005;61:226-231.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15729230?tool=bestpractice.com有趣的是,另一项研究显示,与存在长段 Barrett 食管的患者相比,存在短段 Barrett 食管患者的症状发作更频繁,并且程度更重。[9]Dickman R, Kim JL, Camargo L, et al. Correlation of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptom characteristics with long-segment Barrett's esophagus. Dis Esophagus. 2006;19:360-365.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16984533?tool=bestpractice.com在无论因何种原因接受内镜检查的患者中,Barrett 食管罕见于儿童,往往会随着年龄的增长变得更常见。[10]Cameron AJ. Epidemiology of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. Dis Esophagus. 2002;15:106-108.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12220415?tool=bestpractice.com然而,在一项关于来自三级医院患者的病例系列研究中,约 25% 的 Barrett 食管患者年龄小于 50 岁。[11]Guardino JM, Khandwala F, Lopez R, et al. Barrett's esophagus at a tertiary care center: association of age on incidence and prevalence of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101:2187-2193.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17032182?tool=bestpractice.com与其他人群相比,男性白人的 Barrett 食管患病率更高。[10]Cameron AJ. Epidemiology of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. Dis Esophagus. 2002;15:106-108.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12220415?tool=bestpractice.com年龄、男性和肠上皮化生长度仅轻度增加进展为腺癌的风险。[12]Prasad GA, Bansal A, Sharma P, et al. Predictors of progression in Barrett's esophagus: current knowledge and future directions. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010;105:1490-1502.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104216?tool=bestpractice.comBarrett 食管的发病率大约是 9.9/1000 人-年,[13]Post PN, Siersema PD, Van Dekken H. Rising incidence of clinically evident Barrett's oesophagus in The Netherlands: a nation-wide registry of pathology reports. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2007;42:17-22.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17190757?tool=bestpractice.com并且似乎越来越高。[14]Coleman HG, Bhat S, Murray LJ, et al. Increasing incidence of Barrett's oesophagus: a population-based study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2011;26:739-745.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21671079?tool=bestpractice.com