Investigation of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Infection and the Value of Different Gastric Cancer Screening Methods in a Low-risk Region of Gastric Cancer in China

Background: The aim of this current study was to identify the prevalence and risk factors of infection in the low-risk area of gastric cancer in China, and evaluate the value of different gastric cancer screening methods.

Methods: An epidemiological study was conducted in Yudu County, Jiangxi, China, and participants were followed up for 6 years. All participants completed a questionnaire, laboratory tests and endoscopy. Patients were divided into positive and negative groups, and risk factors for infection were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 1962 residents were included, the prevalence of infection was 33.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that annual income ≤20,000 yuan (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.18-1.77,  < 0.001), loss of appetite (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.29-2.26,  < 0.001), PG II >37.23 ng/mL (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.50-2.97,  < 0.001), G-17 > 1.5 and ≤5.7 pmol/L (OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.93-3.30,  < 0.001), and G-17 > 5.7 pmol/L (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.48-2.60,  < 0.001) were risk factors of infection, while alcohol consumption (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.54-0.91,  = 0.006) was a protective factor. According to the new gastric cancer screening method, the prevalence of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in the low-risk group, medium-risk group and high-risk group was 4.4%, 7.7% and 12.5% respectively ( < 0.001).

Conclusions: In a low-risk area of gastric cancer in China, the infection rate of is relatively low. Low income, loss of appetite, high PG II, and high G-17 were risk factors for infection, while alcohol consumption was a protective factor. Moreover, the new gastric cancer screening method better predicted low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia than the ABC method and the new ABC method.