Evolution of mortality for stomach cancer during the past 20 years in the US

The age-adjusted mortality rate (×100,000) for of digestive organs cancers decreased from 45.33 (95%CI, 45.09-45.98) in 2003 to 38.90 (95%CI, 38-72-39.10) in 2022 (-14.2%), with a notable break in 2021, corresponding to the second “wave” of COVID-19. The stomach cancer age-adjusted mortality also showed a significant and continuous decline over the last 20 searchable years, from 4.15 (95%CI, 4.08-4.23) in 2003 to 2.59 (95%CI 2.54-2.64) in 2022. An apparent break in the declining trend was noted between 2019 and 2020 (i.e., mortality remained unchanged at 2.76×100,000, likely due to the known impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delaying cancer diagnosis and treatment). Overall, the age-adjusted mortality rate for stomach cancer decreased by 37.6% over the last 20 years. Notably, this decreased was slightly higher in man, i.e., from 5.72 (95%CI, 5.59-5.86) in 2003 to 3.38 (95%CI, 3.30-3.47; -40.9%) in 2022, than in women, i.e., from 2.99 (95%CI, 2.91-3.07) in 2003 to 1.96 (95%CI, 1.90-2.02; -34.4%) in 2022. These results analysis confirm that better understanding of molecular mechanisms and risk factors of stomach cancer, along with earlier diagnosis and better therapeutic options helped to reduce gastric cancer mortality rate by almost 38% over the last 20 years.