title: RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR GASTRIC METAPLASIA AND CANCER: A HOSPITAL-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN ECUADOR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  worldwide, stomach cancer is the fifth most frequent cancer, with 952 000 new cases diagnosed in 2012. Ecuador currently holds the 15th place of countries with the highest incidence of stomach cancer for both sexes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  the objective of this study was to evaluate risk and protective factors for gastric cancer/metaplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  a hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador. Cases were defined as patients with histological confirmation of gastric cancer (N = 60) or incomplete gastric metaplasia (N = 53). Controls were defined as patients free of gastric cancer or premalignant lesions (N = 144). All participants were personally interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect data about dietary habits, lifestyle and medical history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  risk factors significantly associated to the presence of gastric cancer/metaplasia were the consumption of reheated foods at least 3 times per week (AOR: 4.57; CI: 2.2 - 9.5) and adding salt to more than 50% of foods (AOR: 1.32; CI: 1.04 - 1.67). Protective factors for gastric cancer/metaplasia were the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (AOR: 0.39; CI 0.19 - 0.83), age less than 58 years old (AOR: 0.38; CI: 0.18 - 0.79) and have received treatment for H. Pylori infection (AOR: 0.33; CI: 0.16 - 0.71).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study reports for the first time, the risk and protective factors associated with gastric cancer and metaplasia in Ecuador.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín.. manuel.baldeon@udla.edu.ec.
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Salvador
authors: Center for Translational Research, Universidad de las Américas.. manuel.baldeon@udla.edu.ec.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Mercado
authors: National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI), Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador, Quito (Ecuador).. manuel.baldeon@udla.edu.ec.
authors: Gabriela Liliana
authors: GL
authors: Bravo
authors: Center for Translational Research, Universidad de las Américas.. manuel.baldeon@udla.edu.ec.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Baldeón
authors: Center for Translational Research, Universidad de las Américas.. manuel.baldeon@udla.edu.ec.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Fornasini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology