The Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis
Abstract
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common problem that affects patients. The constant irritation of the esophageal mucosa, in addition to the potential aspiration, has been suggested as a predisposing factor for lung cancer (LC). This study aims to investigate the association between GERD and LC. Methods: An electronic search was conducted on EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PubMed databases from inception through November 2025. Studies evaluating the association between GERD and lung cancer in adult populations were included. Reviews, non-English articles, pediatric studies, and non-human studies were excluded. Twelve studies involving 2,900,965 patients met the inclusion criteria. Three types of common and random effect meta-analyses were utilized, namely meta-analysis of proportion, log(HR) and log(OR) models. Included studies were examined for risk of bias using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Results: Twelve articles describing 2,900,965 patients were found to be fit for inclusion. Male and female sexes were equally represented. On average, patients were 57.67 ± 10.02 years of age. Pooled proportion of co-occurring LC and GERD in patients was estimated at 64% [95% C.I.: 15–95%; p = 0.02], with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 96.8%, p < 0.01). Among studies calculating for hazard ratio (HR), an estimated pooled log(HR) of 1.01 [95% C.I.: 0.36–2.8; p = 0.98] with significant data heterogeneity (I2 = 88%, p < 0.01) was found. In comparison, five studies included…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,900,965 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use
- Ivth brazilian consensus conference on helicobacter pylori infection
- A pSMAD/CDX2 complex is essential for the intestinalization of epithelial metaplasia
- S2k-Leitlinie Gastroösophageale Refluxkrankheit und eosinophile Ösophagitis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS) – März 2023 – AWMF-Registernummer: 021–013
- Step-by-step management of refractory gastresophageal reflux disease
- Insights into Effects/Risks of Chronic Hypergastrinemia and Lifelong PPI Treatment in Man Based on Studies of Patients with Zollinger–Ellison Syndrome
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.