只能大体估计食管裂孔疝的患病率,因为大多数食管裂孔疝症状轻微或无症状,诊断标准也可能不同。据临床上估计,在西方人群中,食管裂孔疝的患病率可高达 50%。[3]Mittal RK. Hiatal hernia: myth or reality? Am J Med. 1997 Nov 24;103(5A):33S-9S.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9422620?tool=bestpractice.com 在东方人群中,患病率可能要更低一些。[4]Chang CS, Poon SK, Lien HC, et al. The incidence of reflux esophagitis among the Chinese. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Apr;92(4):668-71.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9128320?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Fujimoto K. Review article: prevalence and epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in Japan. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Dec;20 (Suppl 8):5-8.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02220.xhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15575864?tool=bestpractice.com 直观的说,像其他常见的无症状疾病一样,食管裂孔疝的患病率取决于诊断力度。有症状食管裂孔疝的发病率与胃食管反流病 (GORD) 的诊断密切相关,因为这两种疾病关联紧密(但并非绝对相关)。[6]Skinner DB. Pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux. Ann Surg. 1985 Nov;202(5):546-56.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1250966/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4051603?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Petersen H, Johannessen T, Sandvik AK, et al. Relationship between endoscopic hiatus hernia and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1991 Sep;26(9):921-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1947783?tool=bestpractice.com 对于人群中经治疗的胃食管反流病的病例,其准确的发病率很难确认,但是在西方国家中其发病率10%-20%。[8]Bruley Des Varannes S, Marek L, Humeau B, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease in primary care. Prevalence, epidemiology and quality of life of patients. Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2006 Mar;30(3):364-70.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16633300?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Dent J, El-Serag HB, Wallander MA, et al. Epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review. Gut. 2005 May;54(5):710-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1774487/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15831922?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Spechler SJ. Epidemiology and natural history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Digestion. 1992;51 (Suppl 1):24-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1397743?tool=bestpractice.com 到目前为止,在所有的食管裂孔疝中,滑动性食管裂孔疝(I 型)最为常见,占所有病例 90%-95%。