Epidemiologic Study of Gastric Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review

Khadijeh Kalan Farmanfarma; Neda Mahdavifar; Soheil Hassanipour; Hamid Salehiniya

doi:10.2147/CEG.S256627

Epidemiologic Study of Gastric Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review

Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2020 Nov 5:13:511-542. doi: 10.2147/CEG.S256627. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Khadijeh Kalan Farmanfarma¹, Neda Mahdavifar², Soheil Hassanipour³, Hamid Salehiniya⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
² Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
³ Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
⁴ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in Iran. Knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease is essential in planning for prevention. So this study aimed to investigate the epidemiological aspects of gastric cancer including prevalence, incidence, mortality, and risk factors of Iran.

Methods: This systematic review study was based on articles published in both English and Persian languages during the years of 1970-2020 in international databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) and national databases (including SID, Magiran, and IranDoc). Papers related to epidemiological aspects of the disease including mortality, prevalence, incidence, and risk entered the final review.

Results: According to the studies, the minimum and maximum prevalence of gastric cancer in northwestern Iran (Ardabil) is between 0.2 and 100 per 100,000. Also, the death rate per 100,000 people ranged from 10.6 to 15.72 and the ASMR ranged from 4.2 to 32.2%. On the other hand, the incidence of GC was higher in men than in women (74.9 vs 4.6%). The GC risk ratio was 8-times higher in the elderly than in the other age groups (HR=8.0, 2.7-23.5). The incidence of gastric cancer in patients with H. pylori infection was 18-times and that of smokers 2-times higher than other populations. Low level of economic situation and food insecurity increased the odds of GC by 2.42- and 2.57-times, respectively. It should be noted that there was a direct relationship between consumption of processed red meat, dairy products, fruit juice, smoked and salty fish and legumes, strong and hot tea, and consumption of salt and gastric cancer incidence. There was also an inverse relationship between citrus consumption, fresh fruit, garlic, and gastric cancer. In addition, the mRNA genes are the most GC-related genes.

Conclusion: Given the high incidence of GC in Iran, changing lifestyle and decreasing consumption of preservatives in food, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, and improving the lifestyle can be effective in reducing the incidence of this disease.

Keywords: Iran; epidemiology; gastric cancer; risk factor; systematic review.

Publication types

Review