Is There an Optimal Age Threshold for Searching for Intestinal Metaplasia on Gastric Mucosa in Western Populations?

Introduction: Since screening programs for gastric cancer are not applicable in Western countries, identification and follow-up of gastric precancerous lesions, such as extensive intestinal metaplasia (IM), are worthwhile to increase the diagnosis of cancer at an early stage. We investigated whether an optimal age threshold to detect extensive IM in a European country exists. Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data in a nationwide study involving consecutive patients aged between 50 and 65 years who underwent an upper endoscopy with the standard 5 gastric biopsies. The presence of extensive (antral and gastric body) IM on gastric mucosa was considered. Results: Data found that the prevalence of extensive IM was distinctly higher in patients aged 60–65 years, with a 2.28-fold increased probability compared to younger patients. None of the other considered factors (sex, BMI, smoking habit, first-degree family history, and symptoms) emerged as an independent predictor of extensive IM in the stomach. Conclusion: When deciding for an occasional gastric cancer screening in Western populations, the choice of an age range of 60–65 years might be appropriate, allowing detection of a distinctly high prevalence of extensive IM deserving scheduled follow-up.