Association between inflammatory bowel disease and risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix

Abstract

Background: Previous studies provided inconsistent results regarding the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix. The study aimed to make a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between IBD and risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix.

Methods: Articles published until April 2021 and regarding the association between IBD and risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix were searched in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and Google Scholar. Odds ratios (ORs) from case-control studies and relative risks (RRs) from cohort studies with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to generate a pooled effect size and 95% CI using STATA 12.0 software.

Results: The present study finally included seven cohort studies (including 94 144 IBD patients and 53 661 004 HC) and four case-control studies (including 20 267 cases and 60 034 matched controls). The meta-analysis indicated a positive association between IBD and risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix with a random-effects model (OR/RR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.55-3.91, I² = 91.8%, p < 0.001). However, no significant association between IBD and risk of cervical cancer was showed in the study with a random-effects model (OR/RR = 1.54, 95% CI 0.83-2.85, I² = 82.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: In conclusion, IBD is associated with a 146% higher risk of abnormalities of uterine cervix. However, the study demonstrated no significant association between IBD and risk of cervical cancer. Thus, a conventional screening for abnormalities of uterine cervix is essential for IBD patients.

Keywords: abnormalities of uterine cervix; cervical cancer; inflammatory bowel disease; meta-analysis.