title: Colorectal cancer among persons with HIV: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As persons with HIV live longer, data regarding the epidemiology of colorectal cancer are required to optimize the long-term management of these patients. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to synthesize evidence regarding the incidence of colorectal cancer in persons with HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our primary outcome is the standardized incidence ratio of colorectal cancer among persons with HIV relative to rates in persons not living with HIV. Our secondary objectives are to summarize the evidence for differences with respect to stage at diagnosis, site of disease, and mortality due to colorectal cancer. We will search electronic bibliographic databases from their inception date, as well as conference proceedings and reference lists of included articles. Two investigators will independently screen citations and full-text articles, conduct data abstraction, and appraise study quality. We will examine clinical, methodological, and statistical heterogeneity among studies prior to conducting meta-analysis. Random effects meta-analysis methods will be employed to estimate standardized incidence ratios. These data will inform the development of guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in persons with HIV.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD42014013449.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, 410 Sherbourne Street - 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1K2, Canada. NguemoDjiomJ@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Joseph Djiometio
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nguemo
authors.affiliation: Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. t.oneill@mail.utoronto.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. t.oneill@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. KouY@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tynanma@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tynan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. aghaa@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Ayda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.affiliation: Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. aburchell@ohtn.on.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. aburchell@ohtn.on.ca.|Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. aburchell@ohtn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Ann N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Burchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, 410 Sherbourne Street - 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1K2, Canada. tantoniou@smh.ca.|Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. tantoniou@smh.ca.|The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. tantoniou@smh.ca.|Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. tantoniou@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antoniou
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic