Clinical risk assessment for gastric cancer in asymptomatic population after a health check-up: An individualized consideration of the risk factors

Abstract

For the prevention of gastric cancer, the detection of risk factors associated with precancerous conditions may be more informative. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors of gastric cancer, including precancerous conditions: atrophic gastritis (AG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), and dysplasia.The clinical and endoscopic findings of 60,261 adults who underwent gastroduodenoscopy as part of a health check-up were reviewed retrospectively. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to age, sex, cancer stage, and histology based on Lauren classification.Gastric cancer was diagnosed in 75 patients (0.12%). Both IM and AG were independent risk factors for gastric cancer in all subgroups. Male, older age, obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), a salty and spicy diet, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) were significantly associated with precancerous conditions. However, risk factors related to precancerous conditions were different according to age and sex. In <40 years, H. pylori was the only risk factor related to precancerous conditions, whereas DM with a salty and spicy diet were additional risk factors in ≥40 years. In female individuals, obesity was significant risk factor for precancerous conditions as well as H. pylori infection.AG and IM are independent risk factors for gastric cancer. To prevent gastric cancer, H. pylori eradication may be more useful in <40 years, whereas additional factors such as DM, obesity, salty and spicy diet may be important in female or ≥40 years.