Published online Aug 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i30.10486
Revised: June 10, 2014
Accepted: June 25, 2014
Published online: August 14, 2014
Processing time: 139 Days and 5.8 Hours
AIM: To investigate the clinical epidemiological characteristics of gastric cancer in the Hehuang valley, China, to provide a reference for treatment and prevention of regional gastric cancer.
METHODS: Between February 2003 and February 2013, the records of 2419 patients with gastric cancer were included in this study. The patient’s characteristics, histological and pathological features, as well as the dietary habits of the patients, were investigated.
RESULTS: The clinical data showed that adenocarcinoma was the leading histological type of gastric cancer in this area. Characteristics of gastric cancer in different ethnic groups and age showed that the 60.55-65.50 years group showed the high incidence of gastric cancer in all ethnic groups. There were more male gastric cancer patients than female. Intestinal was the most common type of gastric cancer in the Hehuang valley. There was no significant difference in the proportion of sex in terms of Helicobacter pylori infection. The impact of dietary habits on gastric cancer showed that regular consumption of fried or grilled food, consumption of high-salt, high-fat and spicy food and drinking strong Boiled brick-tea were three important factors associated with gastric cancer in males and females.
CONCLUSION: Differences existed in race, sex, and age of patients according to the epidemiology of gastric cancer in the Hehuang valley. Moreover, dietary habits was also an important factor contributing to gastric cancer.
Core tip: Gastric cancer is an important public health burden in China (especially in northwest of China). The Hehuang valley part of the ancient Silk Road, is located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. As an important population center on the Silk Road, a systematic clinical epidemiological study of gastric cancer is necessary. We conducted a clinical epidemiology study of gastric cancer in the Hehuang valley. Significant differences were observed for race, sex, and age of patients with gastric cancer in the Hehuang valley. Dietary habit was an important factor contributing to gastric cancer.