Regional trends in incidence and prevalence of gastric cancer among older adults (70+) from 1990 to 2021: A global burden of disease study.

e16481 Background: Gastric cancer is a malignant disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the stomach lining. It is a global health concern with regional variation in incidence and prevalence. This study investigates the regional incidence and prevalence of gastric cancer among adults aged 70 and older from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from 26 global regions. Methods: Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data for 2021 were analyzed to assess regional incidence and prevalence of gastric cancer among adults aged ≥ 70. The Annual Average Percentage Change (AAPC) was calculated to evaluate trends from 1990 to 2021, with statistical significance determined using p-values. Results: In 2021, East Asia has the highest incidence (273403) followed by Middle SDI (189383) and High-middle SDI (176691). Highest Prevalence numbers were recorded for East Asia (398,000) followed by High SDI (337,000) and High-middle SDI (250,000). With regards to rates per 100,000, Oceania has the lowest incidence (257) as well as prevalence (252) followed by Central Sub-Saharan Africa (I:1142 , P: 1081) and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (I:1295, P: 1227). The largest increase in AAPC of incidence was exhibited by Western Sub Saharan Africa (-0.24, CI: -0.27 to -0.23), Southern Sub Saharan Africa (-0.29, CI: 0.37 to -0.22), and South Asia (-0.306, CI: -0.422 to -0.158) regions, while South Asia (-0.087, CI: -0.1748 to 0.0308), East Asia (-0.0952, CI: 0.0284 to 0.1606), and Andean Latin America (-0.1696, CI: -0.3498 to -0.0381) showed largest increase in AAPC of prevalence. Western Europe region had the greatest decline in AAPC of incidence (-2.3995, CI: -2.4374 to -2.3691) followed by Central Europe (-2.2010, CI: -2.3007 to -2.1445) and Eastern Europe (-2.1554, CI: -2.212 to -2.0925 ) regions while Central Asia had the greatest decline in AAPC of prevalence (-1.9281, CI: -2.0109 to -1.8522) followed by High Income Asia Pacific (-1.8268, CI: -1.8926 to -1.7913) and Eastern Europe (-1.8103, CI: -1.8631 to -1.7623). All AAPC values were statistically significant (p < 0.000001). Conclusions: The East Asia region exhibited the highest incidence and prevalence, highlighting the vulnerability of these populations, while Central Sub-Saharan Africa bore the least burden. Notably, several regions, particularly in Asia, experienced substantial increases in both incidence and prevalence, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Conversely, some regions, such as Europe, showed encouraging declines in prevalence, suggesting that effective prevention and control strategies can be implemented. These findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches to address the evolving burden of Gastric Cancer.