← Metformin × adverse events & safety

SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2023

The relationship between the use of metformin and the risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jian Hu et al.PubMed ↗Full text ↗Publisher ↗

  • Use of metforminlooks good hereLower pancreatic cancer.Correlation only, not a test of it.
  • Metformin userslooks bad hereHigher pancreatic cancer.Correlation only, not a test of it.

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

Correlation, not cause

Use of metformin went with lower pancreatic cancer

−18%−31% to −2%

use of metformin vs no use of metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes

Bigger than 5 in 10 for adverse events & safety

As reported

OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69–0.98 · the paper's word: risk of pancreatic cancer

Correlation, not cause

Use of metformin went with lower pancreatic cancer

−21%−34% to −6%

use of metformin vs use of hypoglycemic drugs, in patients with type 2 diabetes

Bigger than 5 in 10 for adverse events & safety

As reported

OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66–0.94 · the paper's word: risk of pancreatic cancer

Correlation, not cause

Metformin users went with higher pancreatic cancer

2.2×1.1× to 4.4×

metformin users vs no drugs or only diet therapy

Bigger than 8 in 10 for adverse events & safety

As reported

OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.08–4.44 · the paper's word: risk of pancreatic cancer

Who was studied, and how

people with type 2 diabetes, in this paper

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

on use of metformin
not on use of metformin

Use of metformin went with lower pancreatic cancer−18%

correlation, not a test

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

on metformin users
not on drugs or only diet therapy

Metformin users went with higher pancreatic cancer2.2×

correlation, not a test

the abstract, start to end

… in patients with type 2 diabetes (OR = 0.82, 95% CI (0.69, 0.98)).

… in patients with type 2 diabetes (OR = 0.79, 95% CI (0.66, 0.94)).

… the risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 2.19, 95% CI (1.08, 4.44)).

← favours treatmentfavours comparator →
could be chance
Risk of pancreatic canceruse of metformin vs no use of metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes
OR 0.820.69–0.98
Risk of pancreatic canceruse of metformin vs use of hypoglycemic drugs, in patients with type 2 diabetes
OR 0.790.66–0.94
Risk of pancreatic cancermetformin users vs no drugs or only diet therapy
OR 2.191.08–4.44
MetforminAdverse events & safety
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Full record →Abstract, authors, funding and every citing paper · PMID 36829129