Role of Surgical Innovation in Addressing the GERD Treatment Gap

GERD is a common and costly medical condition that has become increasingly prevalent in Western societies over the past several decades.1 In 2012, GERD accounted for nearly 9 million clinic visits and was the most common diagnosis for outpatients presenting with a gastrointestinal complaint.2 This trend has showed no signs of slowing down. In 2004, GERD treatment in the US cost more than $12 billion, which was more than the cost of abdominal wall hernia and gallstone treatment combined.3 Nearly two-thirds of this cost was attributable to proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and this likely underestimates the current cost of therapy because the percentage of patients prescribed PPIs on an outpatient basis more than doubled between 2002 and 2009.
Source: Journal of the American College of Surgeons - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Invited Commentary Source Type: research