J Korean Med Assoc.  2019 Aug;62(8):398-406. 10.5124/jkma.2019.62.8.398.

Epidemiology of gastric cancer in Korea

• Ko KP

• KMID: 2455376
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2019.62.8.398

Abstract

Rapid aging, economic development, lifestyle westernization, hygiene improvement, and scientific development have contributed for the epidemiologic changes of gastric cancer. This study aimed to review the descriptive epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of gastric cancer in Korea. Age-standardized incidence and mortality of gastric cancer have decreased and showed age effect and cohort effect. Annual percent change in the incidence of gastric cancer has been prominent in recent years. Major risk factor of gastric cancer is Helicobacter pylori infection. Although H. pylori infection was associated with only non-cardia gastric cancer in meta-analysis, H. pylori infection was associated with both non-cardia and cardia gastric cancer in Asian studies. The estimated population attributable fraction of H. pylori regarding gastric cancer incidence was about 76% in Korean. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking was associated with gastric cancer regardless of cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer. Cigarette smoking was estimated to be responsible for 28% of gastric cancer incidence in men and 2% in women. Obesity was risk factor for cardia gastric cancer but not non-cardia gastric cancer. This discrepancy between cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer was consistently shown in epidemiologic studies in Korea. Salt intake was also well-known risk factor of gastric cancer and prevalence of high sodium intake more than 2,000mg in Korean was 81.5%. For primary prevention of gastric cancer, eradication of H. pylori and life-style modification including no smoking, no alcohol drinking, weight control, and low sodium intake are important. Gastric endoscopy is recommended for secondary prevention of gastric cancer.

Keyword

Stomach neoplasms; Epidemiology; Risk factors; Prevention

MeSH Terms

Aging
Alcohol Drinking
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Cardia
Cohort Effect
Economic Development
Endoscopy
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology*
Female
Helicobacter pylori
Humans
Hygiene
Incidence
Korea*
Life Style
Male
Mortality
Obesity
Prevalence
Primary Prevention
Risk Factors
Secondary Prevention
Smoke
Smoking
Sodium
Stomach Neoplasms*
Smoke
Sodium

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A) Age-standardized incidence rate and (B) age-standardized mortality rate of gastric cancer. Data from Korean Statistical Information Service [2].

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  Figure 2 Age-specific incidence rates of gastric cancer. Data from Korean Statistical Information Service [2].

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  Figure 3 Age-specific mortality rates of gastric cancer. Data from Korean Statistical Information Service [2].

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