Patients with Barrett's esophagus perceive their risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma as low.

BACKGROUND

The risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is approximately 0.5% per year.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how patients with BE estimate and perceive their risk of developing EAC.

DESIGN

Questionnaire study.

SETTING

Patients with BE who were undergoing surveillance endoscopy based on histologic and flow cytometric results.

PATIENTS

A total of 192 patients with BE were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Individual patients were asked to estimate the numerical risk to develop EAC for patients with BE in general and for themselves. How patients perceived their own risk was measured on a scale from "very small" to "very large."

RESULTS

At least 1 question was filled out by 169 patients (88% response). Sixty percent of respondents underestimated the numerical risk for patients with BE, in general, to develop EAC, while even more patients (69%) underestimated their own risk. Most respondents perceived their own risk as very small or small (63%).

LIMITATIONS

Risk estimations may depend on the response scale used.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with BE underestimated the numerical risk and perceived their risk of developing EAC as (very) low. Despite a low perceived risk, all patients in this group adhered to endoscopic surveillance.