Predictors for development of complete and incomplete intestinal metaplasia (IM) associated with H. pylori infection: A large-scale study from low prevalence area of gastric cancer (IM-HP trial).

Males, age >50 years, and current H. pylori infection are significant predictors for the presence of intestinal metaplasia. BMI might be beneficial for using as a predictive risk factor to reduce the development of incomplete intestinal metaplasia. H. pylori eradication could be an effective way to prevent the development of gastric precancerous lesions.