Expands efforts to decrease stomach cancer screenings in Korea
In a significant move towards refining its public health strategies, South Korea has revised its gastric cancer screening guidelines for the first time in a decade. The new recommendations, based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, aim to strike a balance between the benefits and potential harms of regular screenings.
The revised guidelines, announced in 2023, recommend gastric cancer screening for individuals aged between 40 and 74. This change marks an age limit on screening, as opposed to the previous guideline that did not have an upper age limit. For those aged 75 to 84, the National Cancer Center report states that there is not enough evidence to conclude that the benefits of regular screening outweigh the harms. Consequently, screening is not recommended for those older than 85.
The decision to revise the guidelines follows a public hearing held in September and is a testament to South Korea's commitment to evidence-based medicine. One of the key changes in the new guidelines is the recommendation for contrast radiography, which is now only medically essential.
South Korea's success in reducing the mortality rate from stomach cancer is well-documented. As of 2021, the mortality rate from stomach cancer in South Korea was reduced to one-fifth of the rate in 1999, falling from 23.9 deaths to just 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people. This significant decrease is attributed to a nationwide early detection campaign, annual endoscopy screenings, and a well-established public health care system.
The advancement of Korea's medical system is further highlighted in the new recommendation for gastric cancer screening. The country ranked fifth in the world for new cases of stomach cancer in 2022, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Despite this, the relative survival rate for stomach cancer in South Korea is nearly 80 percent, more than double that of the United States, where the five-year relative survival rate for patients diagnosed with stomach cancer between 2015 and 2021 was 37.9 percent.
The success in South Korea serves as a beacon for other countries looking to improve their gastric cancer screening and treatment strategies. The revised guidelines in South Korea not only reflect the country's commitment to evidence-based medicine but also its continuous efforts to improve public health.
Read also:
- Hospital's Enhancement of Outpatient Services Alleviates Emergency Department Strain
- Increased Chikungunya infections in UK travelers prompt mosquito bite caution
- Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister holds discussions on the prevailing circumstances in Almaty
- In the state, Kaiser Permanente boasts the top-ranked health insurance program
