Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill recently published a report on the prevalence of GI, liver and pancreatic diseases in the United States, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.
Here are eight things to know from the report.
1. In a year, there were 7 million gastroesophageal reflux disease diagnoses in the ambulatory setting.
2. There were nearly 4 million hemorrhoids diagnoses in the ambulatory setting in a year.
3. In 2012, functional and motility GI disorders led to nearly 1 million emergency department visits.
4. In 2011, there were more than 1 million people in the United States living with colorectal cancer.
5. The leading cause of death related to GI issues was colorectal cancer, followed by pancreatic and hepatobiliary neoplasms.
6. The top GI diagnosis leading to hospitalization was GI hemorrhage. In 2012, there were 500,000 GI hemorrhage hospital discharges costing approximately $5 billion.
7. Hospitalizations and charges related to inflammatory bowel disease and Clostridium difficile have increased over the past 20 years.
8. The analysis, published in the journal Gastroenterology, was led by Anne F. Peery, MD, MSCR, and colleagues at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.