← Metformin × all-cause mortality

SynthesisOncotarget2016

Metformin use improves survival of diabetic liver cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Shu-Juan Ma et al.PubMed ↗Full text ↗Publisher ↗

  • Metformin uselooks good hereLower survival of liver cancer patients.Correlation only, not a test of it.

What moved togetherboth groups pooled, not the treatment’s effect

Correlation, not cause

Metformin use went with lower survival of liver cancer patients

−41%−58% to −17%

metformin use vs non-use of metformin

Bigger than 9 in 10 for all-cause mortality

As reported

HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42–0.83

Correlation, not cause

Metformin use went with lower survival of liver cancer patients

−36%−58% to −3%

metformin use vs non-use of metformin, in diabetic liver cancer patients

Bigger than 8 in 10 for all-cause mortality

As reported

HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.97

Who was studied, and how

people with type 2 diabetes, in this paper

Already taking metformin use, or nottheir own situation, not assigned

on metformin use
not on use of metformin

Metformin use went with lower survival of liver cancer patients−41%

correlation, not a test

the abstract, start to end

… associated with better survival (HR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42-0.83; p = 0.002) of liver cancer patients, and the beneficial effect persisted (HR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.97; p = 0.035) …

← favours treatmentfavours comparator →
could be chance
Survival of liver cancer patientsmetformin use vs non-use of metformin
HR 0.590.42–0.83
Survival of liver cancer patientsmetformin use vs non-use of metformin, in diabetic liver cancer patients
HR 0.640.42–0.97
MetforminAll-cause mortality
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