WORLDWIDE INCIDENCE AND LIFESTYLE RISK FACTORS OF GASTRIC CANCER AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: A GLOBAL STUDY

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and lifestyle risk factors for gastric cancer in younger individuals aged 15-49 years old using global health and national cancer registry data.MethodsWe retrieved the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2020 for age-standardised incidence (ASI) per 100 000 of gastric cancer in young individuals across 185 countries. We estimated the prevalence of lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and dietary habits) among the younger adults by joinpoint regression. We conducted the multivariable linear regression to examine the associations between lifestyle risk factors and incidence whilst adjusting for gross domestic products (GDP) per capita for each country.ResultsThe total number of new cases of young-onset gastric cancer was 100 687 in 2020, with an ASI of 2.5 (IDDF2021-ABS-0188 Figure 1. Worldwide incidence of young-onset gastric cancer in 2020). The highest ASI was in males (2.9 vs. 2.1 in females); Eastern Asia (3.7), Central America (2.4), South America (2.3); and countries of Upper-Middle Income (2.8). Regions with higher incidence of young-onset gastric cancer had higher prevalence of alcohol drinking (beta coefficients (β)=0.066, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.023 to 0.109, p=0.003) and unhealthy dietary habits (β=0.031, 95% CI 0.012 to 0.050, p=0.001), but not smoking (β=0.018, 95% CI -0.010 to 0.046, p=0.210) among the young population.ConclusionsThe burden of young-onset gastric cancer was substantial in 2020, with higher incidence found in male subjects, Eastern Asia, Central and South America. The associated lifestyle risk factors for young-onset gastric cancer included alcohol drinking and unhealthy dietary habits. To prevent young-onset gastric cancer, lifestyle modifications and early detection by screening for high-risk young individuals could be imperative interventions.