Globally, there are many less early-onset gastric cancers (EOGC) than there were in the past; new research based on Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data also indicates that the differences in rates of EOGC continue to grow worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, despite improvements in high-income regions. A recent paper using GBD (2021) data from all countries and continents published in Cancer Biology and Medicine reports that approximately 125,000 people were diagnosed with EOGC and approximately 78,000 people died from EOGC globally in 2021. In terms of incidence, EOGC incidence was at its highest among individuals aged 45–49 years in 2021. Overall mortality from EOGC has decreased 2.9% per year from 1990 to 2021; however, certain regions have seen a larger decrease in EOGC mortality than others, such as East Asia and Europe. In contrast, mortality from EOGC has increased in some regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Key risk factors associated with EOGC include smoking (7.1% of Disability Adjusted Life Years or DALYs) and consuming too much salt (7.7% of all DALYs). Improvements in EOGC incidence and mortality in high-income countries have resulted from screening and education related to EOGC. Conversely, low-income countries are continuing to experience increasing burdens due to limited access to appropriate healthcare. To achieve more equitable outcomes for young adults with EOGC, increases in tobacco control, salt reduction, treatment of Helicobacter pylori and development of early screening programs are essential to addressing disparities in the burden of EOGC globally.
MBH/AB