Table 1

 Characteristics of the study cohorts

MenWomen
Barrett’sOesophagitisRefluxStandard refBarrett’sOesophagitisRefluxStandard ref
UTS, up to standard.
No of subjects (n = 27 813)1033389738288264644249525005152
    (% in each cohort)62%61%60%62%38%39%40%38%
Mean age (y)61.061.361.161.067.868.267.967.8
Available UTS records in GPRD (y)79713226031657654465071211472093341277
Follow up used in the analysis (y)162845054383205119873001286012579
Total oesophageal cancer (n = 137)22352015121698
    Already diagnosed at the start (n = 54)421731954
    Within first year of follow up (n = 45)99947421
    Beyond first year of follow up (n = 38)95484323
Having endoscopy record62%36%22%7%59%36%22%8%
Smoking
    Never or non-smoker48%48%50%44%64%62%63%59%
    Ex-smoker16%15%14%12%9%9%9%8%
    Current smoker17%20%20%16%9%12%12%10%
    Missing19%18%17%28%17%18%16%24%
Alcohol
    Non-drinkers11%9%10%8%21%19%20%16%
    Infrequent drinkers (rarely or occasionally)14%17%17%14%23%24%24%22%
    Regular drinkers17%17%17%14%8%10%9%10%
    Missing58%56%56%64%49%47%47%51%
Body mass index
    Normal weight (18–24)29%30%30%27%28%32%32%33%
    Overweight (25–29)37%37%38%31%31%29%30%25%
    Obese (>30)10%11%11%10%17%15%15%12%
    Missing24%22%21%31%25%24%23%29%