Trends in gastric cancer incidence and mortality in Asia and association analysis with human development index, 1990-2019

To describe the epidemiological time trends and gender, age and regional differences of gastric cancer in Asia during 1990–2019, and to analyze the association between the human development index (HDI) and the statistical indicators of the burden of disease. Describing trends in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) in Asia from 1990 to 2019 based on GBD-reported population-based surveillance of gastric cancer in Asia. Obtained ASIR, ASMR, and mortality to incidence ratios (MIR) for gastric cancer in different countries in 2019, with association analysis by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. The annual percentage change in ASIR and ASMR in Asia from 1990 to 2019 was − 1.20% and − 1.91%. Male gastric cancer patients have higher ASIR and ASMR than female gastric cancer patients. Decreasing trends in ASIR and ASMR for the total population in five Asian regions. From 1990 to 2019, the average annual change in ASMR was − 2.45%, − 1.43%, − 0.53%, − 0.62%, and − 0.27% for Central Asia, East Asia, high-income Asia-Pacific, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, respectively (p < 0.05). Both incidence and mortality were concentrated in the age groups of 85–89 and 89–94 years. Classifying Asian countries into different levels of HDI, only MIR was associated with HDI levels. ASIR and ASMR of gastric cancer in the total population, different regions, and countries in Asia from 1990 to 2019 showed an overall decreasing trend. The MIR index is suggestive of survival rates and the role of cancer care in individual countries. Asian countries should develop different strategies for gastric cancer screening and prevention according to high-risk age, high-risk gender and HDI.