Gastro–duodenal Polyps: An Epidemiologic Survey

Abstract

An epidemiologic study of gastro-duodenal polyps in African- American (AA) and Hispanic population. All endoscopies performed at Harlem hospital from Jan 2009 to Aug 2011 were screened for findings of gastric or duodenal polyps. These 2 cohorts of patients were analyzed for different variables. A total of 2492 upper endoscopies were performed from January 2009 to August 2011. 81 patients were identified with gastric polyps (GP) (3.2%, n=2492) and 32 with duodenal polyps (DP) (1.2%, n=2492). The ethnic distribution of patients in this cohort was 1675 African Americans (AA) and 817 Hispanics (n=2492). The prevalence rate of GP in AA was 2.6 % (45 GP in 1675 AA) and 4.4 % in Hispanics (36 GP in 817 Hispanics). DP were more common in the AA population {AA: 26/1675, 1.5%; Hispanic: 6/817, 0.7%}. The average age for GP was 57years. Among 81 cases of GP, 14 were adenomas (17%), 67 were non-adenomatous, and 30% occurred in males. Although GP were more commonly seen in females, the relative prevalence of gastric adenomas was greater in males than in females (9 /24; 37.5 % in males, versus 5 /57, 8.7% in females). Of 32 cases of DP, 13 were adenomatous (40.6%) while 19 were non- adenomatous. The average age for DP was 65 years, with 38% in males. The prevalence of duodenal adenomatous polyps was similar in males and females. Our cohort had a lower prevalence of all GP than a previous study: 3.2% compared to 6.35% (Susanne, 2009) but a higher prevalence of gastric adenomas: 17% compared to less than 1%. Prevalence of DP was 1.2% compared to 5 % (Culver, 2011). In this cohort, DP occurred more frequently in AA than Hispanics while GP were more common in Hispanics. Overall, gastro-duodenal adenomas were more common in AA than Hispanics. African Americans are known to have a higher prevalence of colonic adenomas and colon cancer risk. The association of gastro-duodenal adenomas with colonic adenomas in the AA population is not known. Further studies are needed to determine clinical significance of these observations.