Koreans With H. Pylori Face 6 Times Higher Stomach Cancer Risk

Koreans infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria face more than six times higher risk of developing stomach cancer compared to non-infected individuals, a new study finds.

Research published in the latest issue of international journal BMC Cancer by a team from Chung-Ang University College of Medicine's Department of Preventive Medicine confirmed these findings, according to medical sources on Monday.

The research team analyzed national health insurance data from 6,863,103 adults aged 40-74 who underwent national cancer screening in 2018 to estimate the causal pathway between H. pylori infection and stomach cancer development. The analysis found that infected individuals had 6.40 times higher risk of developing stomach cancer than non-infected individuals.

Stomach cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers afflicting Koreans, ranking fifth after thyroid, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers.

New stomach cancer cases reach 29,000 annually, with male incidence rates twice that of females. H. pylori infection is identified as a major cause of Korea's high stomach cancer rates.

The bacteria spreads primarily through oral contact, with prevalence among Koreans aged 16 and older reaching 44%. Experts point to Korea's distinctive food culture of sharing dishes from common bowls rather than serving individual portions as a contributing factor.

The study found that risk of precancerous lesions such as atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia was 1.41 times higher, while gastric adenoma risk was 5.81 times higher. Adenomas are precancerous lesions caused by abnormal proliferation of stomach lining cells that, while currently benign, can progress to stomach cancer over time.

The research team focused on the "Correa pathway," which explains stomach cancer development mechanisms. This staged theory posits that H. pylori infection progresses through chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, adenoma, and ultimately stomach cancer. The researchers particularly emphasized the role of adenomas. Analysis showed that 36% of H. pylori's influence leading to stomach cancer manifested through adenomas, which also explained 44% of the progression from atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia to stomach cancer.

Beyond H. pylori infection, stomach cancer develops through multiple factors including diets heavy in salty and processed foods, smoking, alcohol consumption, and chronic gastritis. Early symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and mild heartburn are easily overlooked due to their mild nature. Weight loss, decreased appetite, upper abdominal pain, and anemia may indicate advanced stomach cancer, requiring immediate attention.

For prevention, experts recommend avoiding salty foods, processed meats, charred foods, and excessively hot foods while consuming adequate fruits and vegetables. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol are essential. Experts emphasize that "excessive salt intake, processed food-heavy diets, smoking, and heavy drinking damage the stomach lining and cause chronic inflammation, increasing disease risk." They stress that regular endoscopy examinations for early detection remain the most reliable prevention method, even without symptoms.