Global prevalence and correlation of intestinal parasitic infections in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and researchers continue to explore its underlying factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to clarify the prevalence and potential association between intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and CRC.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across databases that contain articles in English, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to identify articles published up to October 2024 that reported on the prevalence of IPIs in CRC patients. Selected studies were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) for association IPIs in CRC.

RESULTS

A total of 70 studies were included, and 46 case-control and cross-sectional studies were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of IPIs among CRC patients was determined to be 19.67% (95% CI: 14.81% to 25.02%). Furthermore, individuals with parasitic infections exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of developing CRC, with an OR of 3.61 (95% CI: 2.41-5.43).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a significantly high prevalence of parasitic infections, including both helminths and protozoa, among patients with CRC. The analysis revealed a notable association between IPIs and CRC, suggesting that these infections may contribute to the development and progression of the cancer.