Epidemiology and mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the elderly: a perspective

Mohammad Bashashati; Irene Sarosiek; Richard W McCallum

doi:10.1111/nyas.13196

Epidemiology and mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the elderly: a perspective

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016 Sep;1380(1):230-234. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13196. Epub 2016 Aug 15.

Authors

Mohammad Bashashati¹, Irene Sarosiek¹, Richard W McCallum²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas.
² Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas. Richard.mccallum@ttuhsc.edu.

PMID: 27526197
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13196

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) seems to be more common in older individuals. Disturbed esophageal motility; anatomical disorders, such as hiatal hernia, increased obesity, defective mucosal integrity, and alteration in salivary secretion; and concomitant medications all attribute to the higher rate of GERD in the elderly. In this review, we discuss the underlying mechanisms that could explain this higher rate of GERD in the elderly.

Keywords: elderly; epidemiology; gastroesophageal reflux disease; pathophysiology; severity.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Gastroesophageal Reflux / epidemiology*
Gastroesophageal Reflux / physiopathology*
Hernia, Hiatal / diagnosis
Hernia, Hiatal / epidemiology
Hernia, Hiatal / physiopathology
Humans
Obesity / diagnosis
Obesity / epidemiology
Obesity / physiopathology