Achalasia in Iceland, 1952–2002: An Epidemiologic Study
- 10 April 2007
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Digestive Diseases and Sciences
- Vol. 52 (8), 1855-1860
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9286-y
Abstract
Limited epidemiologic information is available on achalasia in Northern European countries and worldwide. Achalasia has never been studied in Iceland. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of achalasia in Iceland and compare the findings to other studies. All patients diagnosed with achalasia in Iceland from 1952 to 2002 were identified and patients demographic and clinical history was reviewed. The incidence and prevalence of achalasia were obtained. Sixty-two achalasia patients were diagnosed during the 51-year study period, 33 males and 29 females. The mean age at diagnosis was 45.2 years (range, 13.2–85.4 years). The median duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 2.0 years. The mean prevalence was 8.7 cases/100,000 and the overall incidence was 0.55 case/100,000/year. This is the first national epidemiological study of achalasia in a genetically homogeneous population, spanning over half a century. The epidemiology of achalasia in Iceland is similar to that in most other reported studies.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Etiology and Pathogenesis of Achalasia: The Current UnderstandingThe American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005
- Epidemiology and Demographics of AchalasiaGastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America, 2001
- Genetic homogeneity of Icelanders.Nature Genetics, 2000
- A prospective study of the clinical features, manometric findings, incidence and prevalence of achalasia in SingaporeJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 1999
- Histopathologic features in esophagomyotomy specimens from patients with achalasiaGastroenterology, 1996
- Epidemiology of achalasia in central israel rarity of esophageal cancerDigestive Diseases and Sciences, 1993
- Five year prospective study of the incidence, clinical features, and diagnosis of achalasia in Edinburgh.Gut, 1992
- Some Epidemiological and Aetiological Aspects of AchalasiaDigestive Diseases, 1991
- Incidence of achalasia in New Zealand, 1980‐84: An epidemiological study based on hospital dischargesJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 1988
- A study of swallowing difficulties in first degree relatives of patients with achalasia.Thorax, 1985