Reduction of gastric cancer mortality by endoscopic and radiographic screening in an isolated island: A retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic and radiographic screening for gastric cancer. DesignA retrospective cohort study. SettingCommunity in an isolated island. ParticipantsThe study involved 186 patients (131 men, 55 women) diagnosed with gastric cancer between 2000 and 2005. InterventionsEndoscopic and radiographic screening. Main outcome measurementsThe odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in participants versus non-participants of screening, the cumulative survival rate of the gastric cancer patients. ResultsThe odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in the participants versus non-participants of screening was 0.091 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.027-0.308; P<0.0001). The cumulative survival rate of the gastric cancer patients in the screening group was higher than that in the non-screening group (P<0.0001). In the endoscopic screening district, the odds ratio of death from gastric cancer among the participants versus non-participants of endoscopic screening was 0.117 (95% CI 0.013-1.056; P=0.0525), while in the radiographic screening district, it was 0.086 (95% CI 0.020-0.376; P<0.0001). The cumulative survival rates were higher in both the screening groups as compared with the non-screening group (endoscopy, P=0.0302; radiography, P=0.0012). ConclusionThe results suggest that both radiographic and endoscopic screening may prevent gastric cancer deaths.