Abstract

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide which is influenced by different risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various factors associated with precancerous lesions among dyspeptic patients. METHODS: Among dyspeptic patients admitted to gastrointestinal clinics in Ilam city, west of Iran, 1123 were investigated during 2008 to 2011. All patients were evaluated by endoscopy and their biopsy samples were examined for histological differentiations and their pathology reports were classified according to Sydney criteria. RESULTS: One thousand out of 1123 admitted dyspeptic patients were finally analyzed. The mean age of participants was 48 years (ranged 21-84 years), and 64.8 of patients were male. The frequency of patients with atrophy, metaplasia, or both was 14.4, adenocarcinoma 1.2, and polyp hyperplasia 0.7, respectively. The highest frequency was related to those with chronic gastritis accompanied by Helicobacter pylori infection with a figure of 80.8. The frequency of precancerous lesions among smokers compared to non-smokers was higher significantly (p < 0.03). Though non-significant, BMI was associated with the higher risk of premalignant lesions among dyspeptic patients by an increasing manner. CONCLUSION: Chronic gastritis accompanied with H. pylori infection was revealed as the most prevalent variable among dyspeptic patients. Also, higher BMI compared to normal and smokers compared to non-smokers were more involved by precancerous lesions.