Introduction: Stomach cancer is a serious global public health problem. The current burden of stomach cancer and its trends across time and location need to be understood to develop effective preventive strategies.
Methods: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study. The burden of stomach cancer and variations in time and geographical regions were assessed according to the age-standardized rate and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of the incidence and mortality rate between 1991 and 2017. We also investigated the associations between the relevant rates and sociodemographic index (SDI).
Results: Overall, the age-standardized incidence rate (EAPC = -1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.47 to -1.25), age-standardized mortality rate (EAPC = -2.2, 95% CI: -2.29 to -2.12), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (EAPC = -2.52, 95% CI: -2.63 to -2.43) decreased worldwide from 1990 to 2017. This trend varied across different countries and regions and according to sex and age. SDI had a significant negative correlation with the age-standardized mortality rate (P < 0.01, r = -0.28) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (P < 0.01, r = -0.31). Similar negative correlations were observed between SDI and the EAPC.
Discussion: The observed correlation between SDI and disease burden suggests that strategically implementing the screening and eradication of Helicobacter pylori, improving the medical level in countries with low SDI, and promoting the implementation of tobacco cessation policies would help reduce the disease burden of stomach cancer.
Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.