Clinical applicability of a new scoring system for population-based screening and risk factors of gastric cancer in the Wannan region

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability of a new scoring system that comprises the variables age, sex, pepsinogen ratio (PGR), gastrin-17 (G-17), and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection for gastric cancer (GC) screening in the Wannan region, China. We also explored the risk factors of GC in the Wannan region. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled asymptomatic participants from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College. We used a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to estimate the screening value of combined measurements of pepsinogen I, PGII, PGR, G-17, and Hp. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to explore the independent risk factors of GC. RESULTS: A total of 25,194 asymptomatic patients were eventually screened. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of combined measurements was 0.817 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.721–0.913), the sensitivity was 81.5%, and the specificity was 77.8%. The detection rate of this new scoring system for GC screening in low-, medium-, and high-risk groups was 0%, 1.63%, and 9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR], 5.934; 95% CI 3.695–9.529; P < 0.001), sex (OR 5.721; 95% CI 2.579–12.695; P < 0.001), Hp infection (OR 1.992; 95% CI 1.255–3.163; P = 0.003), a history of smoking (OR 2.028; 95% CI 1.213–3.392; P = 0.007), consuming a high-salt diet (OR 2.877; 95% CI 1.807–4.580; P < 0.001), frequently eating pickled foods (OR 1.873; 95% CI 1.125–3.120; P = 0.016), and frequently eating fried foods (OR 2.459; 95% CI 1.384–4.369; P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for GC and precancerous lesions. However, frequent consumption of green vegetables (OR 0.388; 95% CI 0.242–0.620; P < 0.001) was an independent protective factor against GC and precancerous lesions. CONCLUSION: The new scoring system for GC screening was feasible in the Wannan region, especially in high-risk populations. Frequent consumption of green vegetables was an independent protective factor against GC and precancerous lesions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02384-w.