Association between Gastric Cancer with Behavioral and Dietary Factors: A Hospital Based Case-Control Study in South Asia

Abstract

Background Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is the fourth leading cancer in Bangladesh. Identification of risk factors, effective prevention, and early diagnosis are the most important interventions against GC. Objectives To find an association of dietary and behavioral factors in the development of GC among the Bangladeshi population. Methods This case–control study was conducted from January 2017 to December 2018 at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 178 patients were studied (89 case and 89 controls). Data were collected via face-to-face interview using a standard structured questionnaire, posing questions about socio-demographic, behavioral and dietary habits, and clinical factors. A binary logistic regression method was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR). Results Among 178 patients, the age group ranged from 30 to 80 years and most patients were between 51 to 60 years. The results showed that regular consumption of red meat, duration of smoking, smokeless tobacco, fast food and fatty food, and family history of any type of cancer were directly associated with the risk of GC. On the contrary, a habit of regular walking and playing sports has an inverse association with GC. Adjusted OR shows regular consumption of red meat has 2.6 times more risk (OR = 2.661) of developing GC compared with irregular meat consumption, and a person with a history of Helicobacter pylori infection is 53% (OR = 7.263; 95% confidence interval: 3.614–14.597) more likely to develop cancer. In contrast, people who were doing exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes/day are 62.7% (OR = 0.373) less likely to develop GC than those who did not. Conclusion The study showed an association of some dietary and behavioral factor in the development of GC. However, more research in this field is required to understand the etiology, for the development of suitable screening test, for demarcation of high-risk population, and to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of primary prevention programs.

Keywords

• gastric cancer
• behavioral factors
• dietary factors