Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Mortality and cardiovascular diseases risk in patients with Barrett's oesophagus: a population-based nationwide
R Erichsen1, E Horvath-Puho1, J L Lund2
1Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Patients with Barrett's oesophagus face a 71% higher risk of overall mortality, with cardiovascular diseases and non-oesophageal cancers being significant concerns. Early intervention for these conditions may improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Barrett's oesophagus is associated with an increased risk of overall mortality.
- Cardiovascular disease is a suspected primary cause of death in these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cause-specific mortality rates in Barrett's oesophagus patients.
- To assess the risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with Barrett's oesophagus.
Main Methods:
- A Danish cohort study (1997-2011) identified 13,435 Barrett's oesophagus patients.
- A matched general population cohort (123,526 individuals) was used for comparison.
- Stratified Cox proportional hazard regression analyzed cause-specific mortality and cardiovascular event rates.
Main Results:
- Barrett's oesophagus patients had a 71% increased risk of overall mortality (HR 1.26).
- Higher mortality rates were observed for cardiovascular diseases (8.5/1000 PY), non-oesophageal cancers (14.7/1000 PY), and oesophageal cancer (5.4/1000 PY).
- Increased incidence rates for cardiovascular diseases, such as congestive heart failure (HR 1.33), were noted.
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic strategies for cardiovascular diseases and non-oesophageal cancers may be crucial for improving prognosis.
- These measures could be more impactful than focusing solely on oesophageal cancer prevention.
Background:
Patients with Barrett's oesophagus may be at increased risk of mortality overall, and cardiovascular disease has been suggested as the main underlying cause of death.
Aim:
To examine cause-specific mortality and risk of cardiovascular events among patients with Barrett's oesophagus.
Methods:
Utilising existing Danish data sources (1997-2011), we identified all patients with histologically verified Barrett's oesophagus (n = 13 435) and 123 526 members of the general population matched by age, sex and individual comorbidities. We calculated cause-specific mortality rates and incidence rates of cardiovascular diseases. We then compared rates between patients with Barrett's oesophagus and the general population comparison cohort, using stratified Cox proportional hazard regression.
Results:
Patients with Barrett's oesophagus had a 71% increased risk of overall mortality. The cause-specific mortality rate per 1000 person-years for patients with Barrett's oesophagus was 8.5 for cardiovascular diseases, 14.7 for non-oesophageal cancers, and 5.4 for oesophageal cancer. Compared to the general population cohort, corresponding hazard ratios were 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.38), 1.77 (95% CI: 1.65-1.90), and 19.4 (95% CI: 16.1-23.4), respectively. The incidence rates of cardiovascular diseases per 1000 person-years for Barrett's oesophagus patients and for persons from the general population cohort, respectively, varied from 0.4 and 0.2 for subarachnoid bleeding (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% CI: 0.87-1.39) to 8.1 and 5.9 for congestive heart failure (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.46).
Conclusion:
Prophylactic measures targeted at cardiovascular diseases and non-oesophageal cancers potentially could be more important than measures against oesophageal cancer, for improving prognosis among patients with Barrett's oesophagus.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Barrett Esophagus-I: Introduction
This constant acid exposure transforms the esophagus's pink mucosal lining (stratified squamous epithelium) into a type of lining more...
01:21Barrett Esophagus-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
To diagnose Barrett's esophagus, healthcare providers often recommend an endoscopy for those showing symptoms of acid reflux. The procedure...
01:26Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
01:24Esophageal Varices-I: Introduction
01:30Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
01:28Esophageal Varices-II: Clinical Features and Management
In the initial assessment, a thorough review of the patient's medical history is vital to identify risk factors such as liver disease, alcohol...