Variation in Incidence of and Mortality from Stomach Cancer, with Particular Reference to the United States

Abstract

Available evidence on the variation in stomach-cancer incidence and mortality with respect to time trends, age, sex, race, country, geographic latitude, nativity, socioeconomic class, and urban-rural residence is reviewed. In the search for exogenous factors that might influence the distribution of stomach-cancer cases, dietary effects appear to be the most obvious possibilities. The use of retrospective studies of cancer patients and matched controls to explore associations between stomach cancer and items of diet is discussed. Also included is a summary of variations in per capita consumption of several food items among population groups within the United States supplemented by observations for some countries with high stomach-cancer rates, which may be useful in providing leads for controlled, retrospective studies.