Modifiable Risk Factors in Hispanic Adults With Gastric Cancer in the United States.

Background: Hispanics make up 19% of the U.S. population and are experiencing rising rates of cancer, primarily due to an increase in infection-related cancers (gastric, hepatic, cervical) and advanced cancers secondary to delayed screening (colorectal, cervical, breast). There is an increased incidence of gastric cancer (associated with infection, obesity, alcohol, and tobacco use) in Hispanics, especially at a young age, highlighting the need to consider ethnicity as a risk factor.
Methods: This study utilized the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database to examine all patients admitted with gastric cancer. Individuals were stratified by race, age, and comorbidities, including modifiable risk factors that are associated with gastric cancer.
Results: There were 5,785 (7.44%) patients aged 18-44, 28,370 (36.49%) aged 45-64, and 43,590 (56.07%) over 65 years of age. Notably, 34.3% of the youngest group were Hispanic, contrasted with 19.7% and 12.9% in the older groups, respectively. Younger Hispanic patients showed a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection (8.6%) compared with older Hispanics (3.6% in the middle age group and 2.1% in the oldest, p<0.01). There was a high prevalence of obesity, tobacco use, and gastric ulcers in this cohort. Other risk factors such as alcohol use and gastric polyps were present at a lesser prevalence.
Conclusions: This study reveals that Hispanic patients tend to have a younger age of onset of gastric cancer, coupled with an increased incidence of H. pylori infection at a younger age. This finding underscores the potential benefit of H. pylori screening among asymptomatic young Hispanics with the aim of reducing gastric cancer morbidity and mortality in this population.
Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
(Copyright © 2024, Nieto Dominguez et al.)