Mayo Hirabayashi1, Manami Inoue2, Norie Sawada1, Eiko Saito3, Sarah K Abe1, Akihisa Hidaka1, Motoki Iwasaki1, Taiki Yamaji1, Taichi Shimazu1, Kenji Shibuya4, Shoichiro Tsugane1. 1. Epidemiology and Prevention Group, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. 2. Epidemiology and Prevention Group, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Electronic address: mnminoue@ncc.go.jp. 3. Division of Cancer Statistics Integration, Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan; Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. 4. Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Body fatness and weight gain are considered probable causes of gastric cancer, specifically in the cardia region. However, limited evidence is available in Asia, where the burden of gastric cancer is high. The objective of this study was to determine an association between body-mass index (BMI) and gastric cancer risk using a large population prospective cohort. METHODS: 92,056 subjects enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study who reported their height and weight were followed up until the end of 2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk for gastric cancer and its subsite based on baseline BMI. A subgroup analysis was conducted taking account of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and atrophic gastritis status. RESULTS: 2,860 gastric cancer cases (2,047 men, 813 women), 307 proximal gastric cancer cases (244 men, 63 women), and 1967 distal gastric cancer cases (1,405 men, 562 women) were found during the follow-up period. Among men, baseline BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 increased the risk of overall gastric cancer (hazards ratio (HR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.53). For both sexes, U-shaped increase in the risk was observed for proximal gastric cancer. Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant association between the risk of proximal gastric cancer and BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 among those who were atrophic gastritis positive, H. pylori antibody positive, and those who tested positive to either or both atrophic gastritis and H. pylori antibody. CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that gastric cancer risk increases for men with BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2.
BACKGROUND: Body fatness and weight gain are considered probable causes of gastric cancer, specifically in the cardia region. However, limited evidence is available in Asia, where the burden of gastric cancer is high. The objective of this study was to determine an association between body-mass index (BMI) and gastric cancer risk using a large population prospective cohort. METHODS: 92,056 subjects enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study who reported their height and weight were followed up until the end of 2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk for gastric cancer and its subsite based on baseline BMI. A subgroup analysis was conducted taking account of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and atrophic gastritis status. RESULTS: 2,860 gastric cancer cases (2,047 men, 813 women), 307 proximal gastric cancer cases (244 men, 63 women), and 1967 distal gastric cancer cases (1,405 men, 562 women) were found during the follow-up period. Among men, baseline BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 increased the risk of overall gastric cancer (hazards ratio (HR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.53). For both sexes, U-shaped increase in the risk was observed for proximal gastric cancer. Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant association between the risk of proximal gastric cancer and BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 among those who were atrophic gastritis positive, H. pylori antibody positive, and those who tested positive to either or both atrophic gastritis and H. pylori antibody. CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that gastric cancer risk increases for men with BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2.