Trends in upper GI pathology over 18 years: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) pathologies, such as peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are common causes of gastrointestinal discomfort. This study investigates the trends in the prevalence and demographic patterns of several upper GI conditions over an 18-year period (2007-2024) at a tertiary care center.

A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from endoscopic procedures performed between 2007 and 2024. The data included diagnoses of gastritis, peptic ulcers, GERD, bulbitis, hiatal hernia, LES insufficiency, esophagitis, duodenitis, and malignancies. We evaluated the trends in the number of cases and the average age of patients diagnosed with these conditions. Additionally, the male-to-female ratio was analyzed for each pathology. Statistical analysis included time-series analysis to detect trends over the study period.

A total of 6,188 endoscopic procedures were analyzed. Gastritis was the most prevalent condition, accounting for 60.8% of cases, followed by peptic ulcers (22.8%) and GERD (14.5%). Time-series analysis revealed a steady decline in the incidence of gastritis and peptic ulcers over the years (p < 0.05), while GERD exhibited a bimodal distribution with an increase after 2018. The average age of patients varied across conditions, with GERD showing a significant increase in the average age over time. Gender distribution was relatively balanced for most conditions, although GERD showed a higher prevalence in females.

This study highlights significant trends in the prevalence of upper GI pathologies, with a decrease in gastritis and peptic ulcers and a rising trend in GERD. The findings suggest that the demographic landscape of upper GI pathologies is shifting, with GERD becoming more prominent in the later years of the study.