• Muhammad Kamran, Abdullah Bin Khalid, Muhammad Danish Muneeb, and Sohail Hussain.
• Muhammad Kamran, FCPS. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Fatima Hospital, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2023 May 1; 39 (3): 858862858-862.

ObjectiveUnderstanding the epidemiology of upper gastrointestinal cancers in Pakistan may help in identifying important demographic risk factors for upper gastrointestinal malignancies in a particular rural population group. This will benefit in implementing tailored prevention approaches as well as effective management of health services.MethodA secondary data analysis of 1193 patients was conducted who went through diagnostic upper GI endoscopy between December 2016 to May 2019 at Fatima Hospital. The endoscopies were performed at Fatima Hospital which is the main health resource for the specifically targeted rural community. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.ResultsThe median age of patients included in the sample was 35 years (IQR=20 years). One third of all endoscopic findings were concluded as normal. The frequency of malignant upper gastrointestinal lesions was relatively higher among male and patients with age 65 years or more. The study didn't find any significant differences in the distribution of malignancies on the basis of ethnicity. Adenocarcinoma of esophagus was the most common malignant lesion.ConclusionThe average age of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy among rural community of Karachi was relatively low. The burden of upper GI malignancies was significantly higher among elderly. Male patients had significantly greater burden of premalignant and malignant lesions as compared to females. No differences in the distribution of diagnostic outcomes were observed on the basis of ethnicity.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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