Aetiological Factors in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Abstract

Constitutional and environmental factors of possible aetiological significance in chronic atrophic gastritis were studied in 221 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia whose gastric mucosa was investigated by gastric biopsy. Fifty-five patients (25%) had chronic superficial or atrophic gastritis. There was no difference between the sexes in the distribution of mucosal changes. The incidence of chronic gastritis rose steadily with advancing age. An increased incidence of gastritis was also associated with blue eyes, low social class, heavy cigarette-smoking, heavy consumption of alcohol, drinking hot tea, and possibly aspirin-taking. These factors appeared to act independently of each other.© 1966, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.