Infant mortality, stomach cancer, stroke, and coronary heart disease: ecological analysis

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Abstract
Editorial by Forman and Goodman Mortality from stomach cancer and stroke shows an international correlation, consistent inverse socioeconomic gradients, a particular dependence on socioeconomic circumstances in childhood,1 and parallel patterns of decline in most industrialised countries over the past 30–40 years. The plausibility of the hypothesis that salt intake underlies this similarity has been weakened over the past decade as evidence for Helicobacter pylori as the key factor in the aetiology of non-cardia stomach cancer has increased.2 H pylori is thought to be acquired in childhood, and risk of infection is closely related to living conditions, hygiene, and housing standards. Geographical, socioeconomic, and secular variations in the prevalence of H pylori fit well with the corresponding trends and differences in mortality from stomach cancer between and within countries.2 Infant mortality in the early part of the 20th century indicates living conditions and, …

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