Trends in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease as Measured by the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey

摘要

Background The prevalence of reflux disease is increasing. Health-care utilization including physician visits for this disorder is lacking. Our purpose was to analyze the trend in physician visits for GERD from the period 1995–2006 using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. We also sought to determine health-care utilization for GERD indirectly by assessing prescription trends for proton-pump inhibitors and H2 receptor blockers during the period.