Author(s)

M. Obtel^1*, C. Nejjari², A. Zidouh³, L. Belakhel⁴, K. Bendahhou⁵, O. El Menzhi¹, S. Mathoulin Pelissier^6,7,8, R. Bekkali³

¹Directorate of Epidemiology and Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco.
²Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fez, Morocco.
³Association Lalla Salma de Lutte Contre le Cancer, Rabat, Morocco.
⁴Cancer Control Unit, Directorate of Epidemiology and Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco.
⁵Cancer Registry of Grand Casablanca, Oncology Centre of Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
⁶INSERM CIC1404, Clinical Epidemiology, INSERM 897 ISPED, Bordeaux, France.
⁷Clinical and Epidemiological Research Unité Recherche et Epidémiologie Cliniques, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.
⁸Université of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of stomach cancer and to determine linked risk factors. Methods: A retrospective study on available data in three oncology centers was performed. Random systematic selection was conducted among all patients registered over four years (2008-2011). Results: A total of 1145 cancer cases were included. Stomach cancer was more prevalent in men (sex ratio M/F = 2.5). This cancer was significantly more frequent in the age group between 51 and 70 years (p = 0.02), in smokers (p = 0.04), and in alcohol consumers (p = 0.04). Conclusion: This retrospective study highlights that even if the incidence of stomach cancer has declined over the last two decades in many countries, this cancer is still a serious public health problem in Morocco. Other prospective studies to identify other risk factors are highly recommended to adjust health strategies in our country.

Stomach Cancer, Risk Factors, Morocco

Obtel, M. , Nejjari, C. , Zidouh, A. , Belakhel, L. , Bendahhou, K. , El Menzhi, O. , Pelissier, S. and Bekkali, R. (2014) Epidemiologic Profile of the Stomach Cancers in Morocco. Open Access Library Journal, 1, 1-7. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1100555.