Introduction:

The epidemiology of dysphagia is poorly defined. It is a symptom that is associated with aging but is still a matter of uncertainty in young populations. Also, it is is not always reported by patients and is poorly understood in the general population.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of dysphagia in a sample of adult patients referred to a center specializing in Gastroenterology.

Methodology:

This is an observational, descriptive and retrospective study carried out in a specialized gastroenterology center in Bogotá DC in 2016. We reviewed 3,148 clinical histories of patients to identify those whose reason for consultation was dysphagia or who were referred to the clinic with dysphagia as an associated symptom and whose diagnoses had been confirmed by complementary tests.

Results:

Of the 3,148 medical records, 85 (2.7%) presented dysphagia as the main reason for consultation or as an associated symptom. The majority were women (70.5%). The largest proportion of those affected were between 70 and 79 years old. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was the most frequent diagnosis.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of dysphagia found is similar to that reported in the literature. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a frequent cause of dysphagia. Dysphagia continues to be a problem especially among the elderly.

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