Bae SE, et al. - Researchers ascertained if H. pylori eradication would exert an impact on the incidence of gastric cancer in healthy asymptomatic populations. Yielded data demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori eradication led to a reduction in the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer in case of a healthy asymptomatic population. Findings displayed the effect of H. pylori eradication on the prevention of gastric cancer in all ages.

Methods

• This retrospective cohort study examined 38,984 asymptomatic individuals, who underwent health screening examinations more than twice between 2005 and 2016.
• A scrutiny was performed of the incidence of gastric cancer among 3 groups: Those without H. pylori infection (Hp-negative group), those with H. pylori eradication (eradication group), and those without H. pylori eradication (non-eradication group).

Results

• Data revealed that the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer was 54.5 cases per 100,000 person-years during a median of 6.4 years.
• Using the Cox proportional hazard model, a notably higher cumulative incidence of gastric cancer was found in the non-eradication group than those in the Hp-negative (hazard ratio [HR] 4.12, P < .001) and eradication groups (HR 2.73, P=.001).
• No marked variation was determined in the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer between the eradication and Hp-negative groups.
• Findings illustrated that other risk factors for gastric cancer occurrence were age, smoking, family history of gastric cancer, and gastric atrophy.
• A marked decrease was reported in the standardized incidence ratios of the age groups above 40 and below 70 in the eradication group.