Epidemiological study on risk factors of gastric cancer among tibetan popolation in plateau area

Objective To examine the risk factors of gastric carcinoma among Tibetan people living in Tibet plateau,and to provide reference for making effective strategy to prevent gastric carcinoma. Methods A 1: 1 matched casecontrol study was conducted among 116 new diagnosed gastric cancer patients and 116 healthy physical examinees over the same period in Tibet Region People’s Hospital with a questionnaire survey. Results Univariate logistic regression analyses showed that the main risk factors for gastric cancer in the high-altitude region were sulking（ odds rationOR=2. 812）,smoking（ OR = 1. 908）,eating disorders（ OR = 2. 484）,chronic gastritis（ OR = 2. 164）,gastric ulcer（ OR =2. 105）,family history of tumor（ OR = 3. 367）,high-salt diet（ 2. 792）,rough food（ OR = 2. 337）,and dry and hard food（ OR =3. 164）. Multiyariate logistic regression analyses showed that the main risk factors for gastric carcinoma in the high-altitude region were eating disorders（ OR = 2. 912,95% confidence interval95% CI: 1. 099- 7. 718）,taking dry and hard food for a long time（ OR = 2. 580,95% CI: 1. 155- 5. 765）,salty food（ OR = 2. 653,95% CI: 1. 287- 5. 469）,history of chronic gastritis（ OR = 2. 254,95% CI: 1. 410- 4. 419） and family history of cancer（ OR = 3. 356,95% CI:1. 167- 9. 652）. Conclusion The incidence of gastric carcinoma in plateau area may correlate with unhealthy dietary habit,long-time history of chronic gastric diseases,and familial history of carcinoma. Specific preventive measures should be taken to control the disease according to the unique local condition.