The epidemiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease: what we know and what we need to know.

GERD is a common and costly disorder. Despite its prevalence, the epidemiology and natural history of GERD are incompletely understood. Until now, most studies have been of short duration and utilized convenience samples of patients presenting for upper endoscopy. There remain several obstacles, enumerated above, that need to be overcome to better study the epidemiology of GERD. Large scale, prospective data collection with standardized terminology and longitudinal follow-up will allow a clearer picture of the incidence, prevalence, natural history, and complications of GERD. This in turn should lead to timely, cost-effective diagnosis and management of this disorder.