Changing morbidity pattern in oesophagus, stomach and duodenum in Turkish patients: a time-trend analysis

From an epidemiological point of view it is interesting to study changing morbidity patterns in disease, especially in upper gastrointestinal diseases. It was previously noted that there was a difference in yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in consecutive years. It was also noticed that there was a difference in occurrence of reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease when comparing Turkish immigrants and native Dutch patients.

To determine the yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients of Turkish descent living in the Zaanstreek region (the Netherlands) in consecutive years.

All Turkish patients undergoing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from 1992 until 2009 where included in this study. Findings of endoscopy were retrieved from the files.

The yearly number of Turkish patients undergoing endoscopy varied from 8 to 15% of the total number of upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. An increase in Turkish patients undergoing endoscopy was seen; this was mainly due to an increase in Turkish women. A decrease was seen in the prevalence of ulcer disease; however, hiatus hernia and reflux oesophagitis increased. The number of patients with nodular gastritis decreased while the number of patients with erosive gastritis increased. In this study period there where two patients with oesophageal cancer and nine patients with gastric cancer; no conclusions can be drawn here. CONCLUSION. From the present study it is concluded that in the Turkish population living in the Zaanstreek region, the prevalence of peptic ulcer disease is decreasing, while the prevalence of reflux disease is rising.