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.

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