Published online May 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i5.453
Peer-review started: November 27, 2020
First decision: February 14, 2021
Revised: February 22, 2021
Accepted: April 13, 2021
Article in press: April 13, 2021
Published online: May 15, 2021
Processing time: 160 Days and 9.9 Hours
The previous systematic reviews showed a statistically significant association between alcohol intake and gastric cancer risk in men. However, women did not have statistical significance in any of the meta-analyses.
The author hypothesized that alcohol intake’s association with gastric cancer risk may differ between men and women.
The aim was to investigate the suggested hypothesis targeting four previous meta-analyses by performing a meta-epidemiological review.
After securing additional cohort studies meeting the selection criteria, updated meta-analysis and subgroup analysis by sex were conducted.
The subgroup analysis of the 13 men’s cohorts showed that there was statistical significance in Asians, in the group with a high level of adjustment for smoking status, in the group with the adjustment for body mass index, and in more recently published studies. These results were not found in the seven women’s cohorts.
The present study suggests that alcohol consumption increases the risk of gastric cancer in men.
It is necessary to re-estimate the follow-up outcomes by stratification for sex to determine whether there is a sex difference in the association between alcohol intake and gastric cancer risk.