Risk Factors of Gastric Cancer in High-Risk Region of China: A Population-Based Case-control Study

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.

2 Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China.

3 Fujian Xianyou Health and Family Planning Authority, Putian, China.

4 Fujian Xianyou Hospital, Putian, China.

Abstract

Background: The reason for the high incidence of gastric cancer (GC) in Xianyou County of China was largely
unknown. We aimed to explore the potential sociodemographic risk factors and their associations to GC. Methods:
A population-based case-control study was conducted during March 2013 and April 2016 in Xianyou County. All
newly diagnosed patients of GC were recruited as cases, while controls were selected by matching for cases’ sex, age
(± 3 years) and the place of residence. Results: A total of 523 GC cases and 523 matched healthy controls were included
in the final analysis with mean age of 66.27±8.81 years for cases and 66.31±8.83 years for controls, respectively.
Participants with low socioeconomic status were observed with higher GC risk compared to those in high socioeconomic
status (adjusted OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.13-3.89). Compared to those regularly drink green tea, patients did not have this
dietary habit had nearly 3-fold increased GC risk (adjusted OR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.38-6.13). Other dietary habit, including
consumption of hard food, omission of breakfast, consumption of pickled vegetables 30 years ago, overeating were all
associated with increased risk of GC. Interaction effect were found. Patients in low socioeconomic status and skipped
breakfast had 10-fold higher risk of GC compared to reference group in high socioeconomic status and eat breakfast
regularly (OR=10.71, 95% CI: 5.19-22.10). Furthermore, patients in low socioeconomic status and consumed pickled
vegetable 30 years ago had 6-fold higher risk of GC compared to those in high socioeconomic status but did not intake
pickled vegetables 30 years ago (OR=6.11, 95% CI: 3.87-9.66). Conclusion: High incidence of GC risk in Xianyou
County might be partly attributed to various sociodemographic factors. Specific prevention effort could be target on
population in low socioeconomic status combined with habit of breakfast omission or intake of pickled vegetables.

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