title: Tooth loss is associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis with dose-response analysis.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have revealed the association between tooth loss and the risk of esophageal cancer (EC); however, consistent results were not obtained from different single studies. Therefore, we conducted the present meta-analysis to evaluate the association between tooth loss and EC. We conducted electronic searches of PubMed until to February 10, 2015 to identify relevant observational studies that examined the association between tooth loss and the risk of EC. Study selection and data extraction from eligible studies were independently performed by two authors. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 12.0 software. Finally eight eligible publications with ten studies involving 3 cohort studies, 5 case-control studies, and 1 cross-sectional study were yielded. Meta-analysis identified tooth loss increased risk of EC 1.30 times (Relative risk = 1.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.60, I(2) = 13.5%). Dose-response analysis showed linear relationship between tooth loss and risk of EC (RR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00-1.03; P for non-linearity test was 0.45). Subgroup analysis proved similar results and publication bias was not detected. In conclusion, tooth loss could be considered to be a significant and dependent risk factor for EC based on the current evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China.|Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Department of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xian-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Xiao
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology