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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Oct;222(4):715-722.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.03.016. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

The effect of bariatric surgery on breast cancer incidence and characteristics: A meta-analysis and systematic review

O Lovrics  1 , J Butt  1 , Y Lee  2 , P Lovrics  2 , V Boudreau  3 , M Anvari  3 , D Hong  3 , A G Doumouras  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The effect of bariatric surgery on breast cancer incidence and characteristics: A meta-analysis and systematic review

O Lovrics et al. Am J Surg. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer. This study examines whether bariatric surgery affects breast cancer incidence in women with obesity compared to BMI-matched controls.

Methods: EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched. Primary studies on female breast cancer incidence after bariatric surgery were eligible.

Results: 11 studies were included (n = 1,106,939). The rate of cancer diagnosis was lower in the surgical group (0.54%) compared to control (0.84%; risk ratio (RR) 0.50, 95%CI 0.37-0.67, I2 = 88%). The results were robust to sensitivity analyses for patient age and study size. Bariatric surgery was associated with increased risk of stage I cancer (RR 1.23, 95%CI 1.06-1.44) and reduced risk of stage III or IV cancer (RR 0.50, 95%CI 0.28-0.88). Hormone receptor characteristics were not affected.

Conclusions: Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced incidence and earlier stage at diagnosis of breast cancer in women with obesity compared to BMI-matched controls.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Breast cancer; Obesity-related cancer; Risk reduction.

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