Association between gastric mucosal atrophy and colorectal polyps: a single-center retrospective study in China

The relationship between gastric diseases and colorectal polyps has not been studied adequately. This study aimed to investigate the association of gastric mucosal atrophy and colorectal polyps. A total of 3595 patients receiving gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of colorectal polyps and estimate the odds ratio of these factors. Patients were divided into sub-groups based on the presence of colorectal polyps, including non-adenomatous polyp, adenoma, and advanced adenoma. Gastric mucosal atrophy was sub-divided into C0, C1, C2, and C3-O3 according to the Kimura-Takemoto classification. The incidences of colorectal polyps were analyzed from different grades of the Kimura-Takemoto classification and pathology results. There were 1262 patients with colorectal polyps. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the severity of gastric mucosal atrophy was independently associated with an increased risk of colorectal polyps. The incidences of colorectal polyps in C2 and C3-O3 groups were higher than the results in C0 and C1 groups at all age stages. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidences of non-adenomatous polyps were similar in different grades of gastric mucosal atrophy, and more serious gastric mucosal atrophy was associated with higher incidences of colorectal adenoma and advanced adenoma. C2 and C3-O3 groups were also associated with two or more colorectal adenomas. Serious gastric mucosal atrophy was associated with higher incidences and more numbers of colorectal adenomas.