S3179 Bridging the Divide: Hispanic Health Disparities in Gastric Cancer Near Arizona’s Southern Border

Introduction: Gastric cancer disproportionately affects Hispanic populations in the United States, with rising incidence and frequent diagnoses at advanced stages. Socioeconomic and demographic factors may contribute to these disparities. We aimed to identify independent predictors of gastric cancer among patients in Southern Arizona and examine differences in clinical characteristics between gastric cancer patients and matched controls. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 128 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at Banner University Medical Center Tucson between July 2014 and April 2025. Cases (n = 48) had histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma. Controls (n = 80) were matched based on similar EGD indications. Demographic and clinical data—including age, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, residential distance to the U.S.-Mexico border, and family history—were collected. Student’s t-tests and Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used for univariate comparisons. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of gastric cancer. SPSS was used for statistical analysis, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Compared to controls, gastric cancer patients were older (65.2 ± 13.3 vs 56.0 ± 16.9; P < 0.001), more frequently Hispanic (60.4% vs 15.0%; P < 0.001), had lower BMI (25.9 ± 6.1 vs 30.5 ± 7.9; P < 0.001), and lived closer to the U.S.-Mexico border (43.5 ± 19.6 vs 75.9 ± 2.6 miles; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in gender, smoking status, EGD indication, ASA grade, or family history of gastrointestinal cancers. On multivariable analysis, Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] 18.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.52-74.92; P < 0.001) and closer proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.89-0.96; P < 0.001) were independently associated with gastric cancer. Age, BMI, and smoking status were not significant in the adjusted model. Conclusion: Hispanic ethnicity and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border are strong independent predictors of gastric cancer in Southern Arizona. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted screening and early detection strategies tailored to high-risk Hispanic communities. Culturally sensitive interventions addressing socioeconomic barriers, language obstacles, and healthcare access could play a crucial role in mitigating gastric cancer disparities. Future studies should explore risk-based surveillance to reduce the burden of gastric cancer in this vulnerable population.