• NCDB
• pancreatic cancer
• prognostic factors
• survival

Studies on the association of oral contraceptive (OC) use and pancreatic cancer showed inconsistent findings.

To evaluate the relationship between OC use and pancreatic cancer risk.

A literature search for observational studies (case-control and cohort studies) was conducted up to December 2020. A meta-analysis was performed by calculating pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s chi-square test and I² statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed by study design, source of controls in case-control studies, number of cases of pancreatic cancers, study quality according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score, geographical region and menopausal status. All analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3).

A total of 21 studies (10 case-control studies and 11 cohort studies) were finally included in the present meta-analysis, comprising 7700 cases of pancreatic cancer in total. A significant association was observed between the ever use of OC and pancreatic cancer risk in the overall analysis (RR = 0.85; 95%CI = 0.73-0.98; P = 0.03). Duration of OC use (< 1 year, < 5 years, 5-10 years, > 10 years) was not significantly associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer. Subgroup analyses revealed a statistically significant subgroup difference for the geographic region in which the study was conducted (Europe vs Americas vs Asia; P = 0.07). Subgroup analyses showed a statistically significant decrease in pancreatic cancer risk and OC use in high-quality studies, studies conducted in Europe, and in postmenopausal women.

Despite the suggested protective effects of OC use in this meta-analysis, further epidemiological studies are warranted to fully elucidate the association between the use of OC and pancreatic cancer risk.

• Pancreatic cancer
• Oral contraceptives
• Risk factors
• Risk assessment
• Meta-analysis
• Review

• Asia
• Cohort Studies
• Contraceptives, Oral/adverse effects
• Europe
• Female
• Humans
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/chemically induced
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/epidemiology

• Epidemiology
• Incidence
• Mortality
• Pancreatic cancer
• Risk factors
• Trend

• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/epidemiology
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/mortality
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy
• Prognosis
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Time Factors

• Distant Metastasis
• Kosovo
• Local Infiltration
• MRI
• MSCT
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prevalence
• UCCK Pristina

The aim of this paper is to analyze different factors that influence the trends of pancreatic cancer mortality and morbidity of patients treated at the UCCK of Kosovo. Within this study, we have evaluated pancreatic cancer risk factors, durability and lethality regarding Kosovan patients who have been diagnosed and treated within Kosovo. The study in question is that of retrospective research traversing the period of 2011-2015.

This retrospective research study includes 362 patients recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, 2011-2015 at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo in Pristina. The main important factors included in this study are: age, sex and risk factors that altogether have considerable influence in incidence of pancreatic cancer. The imaging diagnostics are performed with the use of 2D ECHO Phillips, MSCT Sensation 64 and 6 and 1.5T MRI Symphony Siemens that are situated in the Radiologic Clinic of UCCK. The statistic data were obtained from NIPH of Kosovo and Agency of Statistics of Kosovo.

Out of the total number of the 362 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the mortality in all age groups was higher at male patients–61.6 % of cases (n=223) with the highest number found at 51–60 years age group. The 38.4 % (n= 139) were female patients with the highest incidence frequency at F 61–70 years age group. The F/M ratio is 1:1.6. The “plane” nicotine users were found at 34 % (n=123) while the joined, nicotine/alcohol addiction was detected at 26 % (n= 94). The 18.5% (n=67) have had established diagnose of the diabetes mellitus tip II and 9.6 % (n=35) have undergone the medical treatment of the gastroduodenal peptic ulcerations. The total number of deaths is 310 (85.6%) and there are only 52 patients (14.4%) still alive. The mortality rate of the pancreatic cancer in Kosovo was 17.2 in 100.000 residents while the morbidity rate was 2.8 in 100.000 residents.

This retrospective research study intends to present the role of the risk factor, that influence the mortality and morbidity of the pancreatic cancer in Kosovo and finally, to compare these results with similar studies abroad with aim to prevent the pancreatic cancer. The analyses of the obtained statistical data shows that the nicotine addiction play important role in incidence of the pancreatic cancer as well as alcohol addiction, presence of the diseases such are diabetes mellitus tip II and gastroduodenal peptic ulcers.

• MRI
• MSCT
• Mortality and Morbidity
• Pancreatic Cancer risk Factors
• UCCK of Kosovo

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has developed as the dominant paradigm of assessment of evidence that is used in clinical practice. Since its development, EBM has been applied to integrate the best available research into diagnosis and treatment with the purpose of improving patient care. In the EBM era, a hierarchy of evidence has been proposed, including various types of research methods, such as meta-analysis (MA), systematic review (SRV), randomized controlled trial (RCT), case report (CR), practice guideline (PGL), and so on. Although there are numerous studies examining the impact and importance of specific cases of EBM in clinical practice, there is a lack of research quantitatively measuring publication trends in the growth and development of EBM. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was constructed to determine the scientific productivity of EBM research over decades.

NCBI PubMed database was used to search, retrieve and classify publications according to research method and year of publication. Joinpoint regression analysis was undertaken to analyze trends in research productivity and the prevalence of individual research methods.

Analysis indicates that MA and SRV, which are classified as the highest ranking of evidence in the EBM, accounted for a relatively small but auspicious number of publications. For most research methods, the annual percent change (APC) indicates a consistent increase in publication frequency. MA, SRV and RCT show the highest rate of publication growth in the past twenty years. Only controlled clinical trials (CCT) shows a non-significant reduction in publications over the past ten years.

Higher quality research methods, such as MA, SRV and RCT, are showing continuous publication growth, which suggests an acknowledgement of the value of these methods. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of research method publication trends in EBM.

• Biomedical Research/methods
• Biomedical Research/trends
• Evidence-Based Medicine/methods
• Evidence-Based Medicine/trends
• Humans