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

BackgroundThe risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is approximately 0.5% per year.ObjectiveTo investigate how patients with BE estimate and perceive their risk of developing EAC.DesignQuestionnaire study.SettingPatients with BE who were undergoing surveillance endoscopy based on histologic and flow cytometric results.PatientsA total of 192 patients with BE were included.Main Outcome MeasurementsIndividual 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.”ResultsAt 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%).LimitationsRisk estimations may depend on the response scale used.ConclusionsMost 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.