To determine the prevalence and characteristics of premalignant gastric lesions and its relationship with helicobacter pylori infection. We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study. Between january and june 2008, consecutive subjects of middle and high socioeconomic status were evaluated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during a gastric cancer screening in Central FAP Hospital. The demografic, clinic and endoscopic information were analysed. 2616 patients were evaluated. Diagnosis histological of premalignant gastric lesions was made in 187 patients (7.1%) 34 (1.3%) atrophic gastritis (AG), 55 (2.1%), complete intestinal metaplasia (CIM), 92 (3.5%) incomplete intestinal metaplasia (IIM), and 6 (0.2%) dysplasia. The frequency of helicobacter pylori infection was 76.5% (p=0.04), 65.5% (p=NS), 55.4% (p=NS) and 16.7% (p=0.03), in AG, CIM, IIM and dysplasia, respectively. The median age of presentation was similar between the lesions: 53.5 (+/-9.3), 52.6 (+/-11.2), 54.3 (+/-7.8) y 54.2 (+/-12.1) years in AG, CIM, IIM and dysplasia, respectively. The premalignant gastric lesions were more frequent in male subjects and under 60 years (p=NS). There were no significant differences among the differents gastric premalignant lesions and family history of gastric cancer, smoking and alcohol consumption (p=NS). CONCLUSIONS. The prevalence of premalignant gastric lesions in our study was low. The frequency of H. pylori infection was decreased in premalignant lesions more advanced. Association significant was only found among H. pylori infection and AG and dysplasia.