Gastric cancer in the East and South – East region of Algeria 2014 – 2018: incidence, geographical distribution and evolution

Introduction: The incidence of gastric cancer is steadily decreasing but it remains one of the most common and deadliest locations in the world. Algeria is one of the countries at low risk of gastric cancer. Objective: The purpose of this regional study covering 19 wilayas of the country is to provide data on the incidence of gastric cancer, to study its geographical distribution and its evolution. Material and Methods: This is a multicenter descriptive epidemiological study from 1st January 2014 to 31 December 2018 on all cases of gastric cancer diagnosed in the East and South – East region of Algeria. The regional incidence of cancers is estimated from validated registers. Results: Gastric cancer ranks 5th among all cancers and is the 2nd digestive cancer in both sexes. Between 2014 and 2018, in men, the crude incidence rate was 5.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, which corresponds to a standardized rate of 8.2 per 100 000 inhabitants. In women, the crude incidence rate was 3.9 per 100 000 inhabitants, which corresponds to a standardized rate of 5.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. The specific incidence of gastric cancer increases with age from 40 years in both sexes. The wilaya of Annaba recorded the highest gastric cancer rates in this region (14.9 in men and 8.1 in women). Conclusion: The primary prevention of gastric cancers, particularly in terms of reducing the prevalence and the level of risk factors, remains the main strategy, fight against these cancers as well as raising public awareness about the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. The research and then the eradication of Helicobacter pylori is recognized as an effective method of prevention against the development of stomach cancer.