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Meta-Analysis
. 2012 Dec;15(12):701-19.
doi: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2012.12.04.

Menstrual factors, reproductive factors and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Yue Zhang  1 , Zhihua Yin, Li Shen, Yan Wan, Baosen Zhou
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Menstrual factors, reproductive factors and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Yue Zhang et al. Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background and objective: Epidemiological studies have suggested that menstrual and reproductive factors may influence lung cancer risk, but the results are controversial. We therefore carried out a meta-analysis aiming to examine the associations of lung cancer in women with menstrual and reproductive factors.

Methods: Relevant studies were searched from PubMed database, CNKI, WANFANG DATA and VIP INFORMATION up to January 2012, with no language restrictions. References listed from selected papers were also reviewed. We included studies that reported the estimates of relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between menstrual and reproductive factors and lung cancer risk. The pooled RRs were calculated after the heterogeneity test with the software Stata 11, and publication bias and sensitivity were evaluated at the same time.

Results: Twenty-five articles, representing 24 independent studies, were included in this meta-analysis. Older age at menarche in North America women (RR=0.83; 95%CI: 0.73-0.94) was associated with a significant decreased risk of lung cancer. Longer length of menstrual cycle was also associated with decreased lung cancer risk (RR=0.72; 95%CI: 0.57-0.90). Other exposures were not significantly associated.

Conclusions: Our analysis provides evidence of the hypothesis that female sex hormones influence the risk of lung cancer in women, yet additional studies are warranted to extend this finding and to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

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Figures

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1
Flow chart of the literature search for studies of menstrual and reproductive factors and lung cancer risk
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer relative risk (RR) associated with age at menarche (highest vs lowest category)
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Fixed-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with length of menstrual cycle (highest vs lowest category)
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Fixed-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with number of pregnancies (highest vs lowest category)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with parity (highest vs lowest category)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with parity (highest vs nulliparous catrgory)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with age at first live birth (highest vs lowest category)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with age at menopause (highest vs lowest category)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with OC use (ever vs never)
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Random-effects meta-analysis of lung cancer RR associated with HRT use (ever vs never)
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Results of the sensitivity analysis
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Begg's funnel plots with pseudo 95% CIs for lung cancer risk associated with age at menarche (A) and length of menstrual cycle (B)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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