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. 2023 Aug 23;23:782. doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11218-1

Table 2.

Subgroup analyses for the association between meat consumption and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer

Outcomes Exposure Factors Subgroups RR and 95%CI P value Heterogeneity (%) RRR between subgroups
EC Red meat Country Western 1.10 (0.87–1.40) 0.428 33.4 0.82 (0.53–1.27)a
Eastern 1.34 (0.93–1.93) 0.116 -
Sex Male 1.35 (0.57–3.20) 0.496 75.7 1.23 (0.50–3.03)b
Female 1.10 (0.84–1.45) 0.496 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.10 (0.72–1.68) 0.662 45.8 0.96 (0.59–1.55)c
< 10.0 1.15 (0.91–1.45) 0.252 25.6
Adjusted level High 1.10 (0.87–1.40) 0.428 33.4 0.82 (0.53–1.27)d
Moderate 1.34 (0.93–1.93) 0.116 -
Processed meat Country Western 1.17 (0.89–1.55) 0.262 56.7 1.34 (0.84–2.17)a
Eastern 0.87 (0.59–1.28) 0.476 -
Sex Male 1.44 (0.81–2.58) 0.218 51.3 1.62 (0.80–3.26)b
Female 0.89 (0.60–1.32) 0.563 26.3
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 0.94 (0.60–1.49) 0.798 49.3 0.75 (0.44–1.29)c
< 10.0 1.25 (0.94–1.67) 0.127 60.3
Adjusted level High 1.17 (0.89–1.55) 0.262 56.7 1.34 (0.84–2.17)d
Moderate 0.87 (0.59–1.28) 0.476 -
Total red and processed meat Country Western 1.33 (0.79–2.23) 0.286 63.5 1.28 (0.68–2.40)a
Eastern 1.04 (0.73–1.49) 0.829 -
Sex Male - - - -
Female - - -
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.04 (0.73–1.49) 0.829 - 0.78 (0.42–1.47)c
< 10.0 1.33 (0.79–2.23) 0.286 63.5
Adjusted level High 1.33 (0.79–2.23) 0.286 63.5 1.28 (0.68–2.40)d
Moderate 1.04 (0.73–1.49) 0.829 -
GC Red meat Country Western 1.02 (0.86–1.21) 0.805 24.7 1.00 (0.80–1.25)a
Eastern 1.02 (0.88–1.17) 0.818 31.1
Sex Male 1.01 (0.87–1.17) 0.885 0.0 1.12 (0.88–1.43)b
Female 0.90 (0.74–1.09) 0.268 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.01 (0.91–1.12) 0.869 0.0 0.97 (0.72–1.32)c
< 10.0 1.04 (0.78–1.38) 0.792 55.7
Adjusted level High 0.98 (0.88–1.10) 0.758 12.2 0.84 (0.64–1.12)d
Moderate 1.16 (0.90–1.50) 0.250 31.6
Processed meat Country Western 1.11 (0.94–1.33) 0.221 42.4 1.12 (0.90–1.40)a
Eastern 0.99 (0.86–1.13) 0.871 14.0
Sex Male 1.02 (0.88–1.18) 0.774 0.0 0.89 (0.62–1.27)b
Female 1.15 (0.83–1.59) 0.404 62.1
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.08 (0.94–1.25) 0.276 35.3 1.03 (0.74–1.42)c
< 10.0 1.05 (0.78–1.40) 0.759 61.0
Adjusted level High 1.07 (0.92–1.24) 0.382 50.4 0.97 (0.72–1.31)d
Moderate 1.10 (0.85–1.42) 0.479 20.9
Total red and processed meat Country Western 0.97 (0.76–1.24) 0.804 8.6 0.98 (0.72–1.34)a
Eastern 0.99 (0.81–1.20) 0.896 45.6
Sex Male 0.96 (0.82–1.13) 0.618 - 1.17 (0.88–1.55)b
Female 0.82 (0.65–1.03) 0.091 -
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 0.98 (0.78–1.23) 0.873 61.9 0.99 (0.72–1.35)c
< 10.0 0.99 (0.80–1.23) 0.927 0.0
Adjusted level High 0.93 (0.83–1.04) 0.221 0.0 0.68 (0.46-1.00) d
Moderate 1.37 (0.94–1.99) 0.100 -
CRC Red meat Country Western 1.12 (1.04–1.19) 0.001 20.4 1.11 (0.98–1.26)a
Eastern 1.01 (0.91–1.13) 0.830 0.0
Sex Male 0.97 (0.80–1.18) 0.789 0.0 0.92 (0.75–1.14)b
Female 1.05 (0.96–1.15) 0.298 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.06 (0.98–1.15) 0.131 0.0 0.96 (0.84–1.11)c
< 10.0 1.10 (0.98–1.23) 0.092 54.4
Adjusted level High 1.08 (1.01–1.15) 0.020 28.0 0.86 (0.68–1.10)d
Moderate 1.25 (0.99–1.59) 0.058 0.0
Processed meat Country Western 1.20 (1.13–1.29) < 0.001 19.6 1.02 (0.89–1.16)a
Eastern 1.18 (1.06–1.32) 0.003 0.0
Sex Male 1.27 (1.08–1.50) 0.005 23.8 1.11 (0.91–1.36)b
Female 1.14 (1.02–1.28) 0.023 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.21 (1.12–1.32) < 0.001 0.0 1.03 (0.91–1.05)c
< 10.0 1.18 (1.09–1.29) < 0.001 25.7
Adjusted level High 1.18 (1.12–1.24) < 0.001 0.0 0.91 (0.71–1.16)d
Moderate 1.30 (1.03–1.66) 0.030 43.0
Total red and processed meat Country Western 1.15 (1.07–1.23) < 0.001 1.5 1.11 (0.95–1.28)a
Eastern 1.04 (0.91–1.18) 0.574 0.0
Sex Male 1.21 (0.98–1.49) 0.070 0.0 1.09 (0.85–1.40)b
Female 1.11 (0.97–1.26) 0.128 15.4
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.20 (1.05–1.37) 0.007 0.0 1.08 (0.92–1.27)c
< 10.0 1.11 (1.02–1.22) 0.016 23.3
Adjusted level High 1.13 (1.05–1.21) 0.001 10.9 0.97 (0.76–1.23)d
Moderate 1.17 (0.92–1.47) 0.195 0.0
CC Red meat Country Western 1.18 (1.03–1.35) 0.015 7.2 1.10 (0.91–1.34)a
Eastern 1.07 (0.93–1.24) 0.346 0.0
Sex Male 1.05 (0.78–1.41) 0.747 - 1.02 (0.73–1.42)b
Female 1.03 (0.89–1.19) 0.675 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.05 (0.92–1.20) 0.443 0.0 0.85 (0.71–1.03)c
< 10.0 1.23 (1.08–1.42) 0.003 0.0
Adjusted level High 1.14 (1.02–1.27) 0.021 13.0 1.07 (0.75–1.52)d
Moderate 1.07 (0.76–1.50) 0.708 0.0
Processed meat Country Western 1.24 (1.12–1.38) < 0.001 0.0 0.99 (0.80–1.23)a
Eastern 1.25 (1.03–1.50) 0.022 0.0
Sex Male 1.24 (1.04–1.49) 0.018 0.0 0.99 (0.78–1.26)b
Female 1.25 (1.06–1.47) 0.007 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.25 (1.09–1.44) 0.002 0.0 1.01 (0.84–1.22)c
< 10.0 1.24 (1.09–1.40) 0.001 0.0
Adjusted level High 1.22 (1.11–1.35) < 0.001 0.0 0.87 (0.64–1.17)d
Moderate 1.41 (1.06–1.88) 0.019 0.0
Total red and processed meat Country Western 1.24 (1.10–1.41) 0.001 0.0 1.06 (0.79–1.42)a
Eastern 1.17 (0.90–1.52) 0.239 62.3
Sex Male 1.28 (1.02–1.61) 0.032 0.0 1.12 (0.84–1.51)b
Female 1.14 (0.95–1.38) 0.158 4.1
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.26 (1.05–1.51) 0.014 0.0 1.10 (0.85–1.40)c
< 10.0 1.15 (0.97–1.36) 0.115 50.1
Adjusted level High 1.19 (1.04–1.35) 0.012 40.0 1.07 (0.67–1.71)d
Moderate 1.11 (0.71–1.74) 0.635 0.0
RC Red meat Country Western 1.33 (1.03–1.72) 0.029 44.5 1.41 (0.95–2.11)a
Eastern 0.94 (0.69–1.27) 0.678 22.4
Sex Male 1.21 (0.67–2.18) 0.527 - 1.07 (0.54–2.13)b
Female 1.13 (0.79–1.61) 0.518 59.8
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.23 (0.94–1.60) 0.134 35.6 1.07 (0.68–1.69)c
< 10.0 1.15 (0.79–1.66) 0.467 58.8
Adjusted level High 1.10 (0.91–1.33) 0.332 32.4 0.50 (0.28–0.91) d
Moderate 2.18 (1.25–3.81) 0.006 0.0
Processed meat Country Western 1.29 (1.07–1.56) 0.007 19.9 1.13 (0.84–1.53)a
Eastern 1.14 (0.90–1.44) 0.277 0.0
Sex Male 1.03 (0.79–1.36) 0.824 0.0 0.94 (0.65–1.38)b
Female 1.09 (0.84–1.43) 0.515 6.5
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.09 (0.91–1.31) 0.345 0.0 0.77 (0.60-1.00) c
< 10.0 1.41 (1.17–1.69) < 0.001 0.0
Adjusted level High 1.20 (1.05–1.37) 0.007 0.0 0.63 (0.38–1.06)d
Moderate 1.90 (1.15–3.13) 0.012 0.0
Total red and processed meat Country Western 1.32 (1.11–1.57) 0.002 0.0 1.26 (0.98–1.61)a
Eastern 1.05 (0.88–1.26) 0.587 0.0
Sex Male 0.93 (0.58–1.49) 0.763 - 0.84 (0.48–1.46)b
Female 1.11 (0.83–1.49) 0.478 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.09 (0.85–1.39) 0.507 0.0 0.85 (0.61–1.18)c
< 10.0 1.28 (1.03–1.60) 0.025 44.9
Adjusted level High 1.19 (1.03–1.37) 0.021 14.3 0.65 (0.21-2.00)d
Moderate 1.82 (0.60–5.52) 0.290 -
PC Red meat Country Western 1.03 (0.87–1.21) 0.764 55.0 1.91 (0.87–4.18)a
Eastern 0.54 (0.25–1.16) 0.116 -
Sex Male 0.89 (0.70–1.14) 0.360 0.0 0.82 (0.58–1.15)b
Female 1.09 (0.86–1.38) 0.494 33.3
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 0.94 (0.61–1.44) 0.777 63.6 0.91 (0.57–1.45)c
< 10.0 1.03 (0.86–1.23) 0.779 55.2
Adjusted level High 1.03 (0.86–1.22) 0.770 59.5 1.37 (0.73–2.58)d
Moderate 0.75 (0.41–1.38) 0.357 27.4
Processed meat Country Western 0.99 (0.83–1.18) 0.925 68.7 0.85 (0.43–1.68)a
Eastern 1.16 (0.60–2.23) 0.657 -
Sex Male 0.99 (0.76–1.30) 0.953 59.2 1.09 (0.78–1.51)b
Female 0.91 (0.75–1.09) 0.293 28.5
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 0.88 (0.71–1.10) 0.275 0.0 0.84 (0.62–1.13)c
< 10.0 1.05 (0.86–1.29) 0.639 74.1
Adjusted level High 0.99 (0.83–1.17) 0.870 68.2 0.98 (0.46–2.09)d
Moderate 1.01 (0.48–2.10) 0.984 69.5
Total red and processed meat Country Western 1.04 (0.87–1.24) 0.699 43.4 0.80 (0.62–1.03)a
Eastern 1.30 (1.09–1.56) 0.004 -
Sex Male 0.86 (0.65–1.14) 0.287 0.0 0.96 (0.65–1.40)b
Female 0.90 (0.70–1.17) 0.439 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.06 (0.72–1.56) 0.761 0.0 0.97 (0.64–1.49)c
< 10.0 1.09 (0.91–1.30) 0.363 59.3
Adjusted level High 1.08 (0.93–1.27) 0.305 48.3 -
Moderate - - -
HCC Red meat Country Western 1.04 (0.99–1.09) 0.103 0.0 0.90 (0.68–1.19)a
Eastern 1.16 (0.88–1.53) 0.299 -
Sex Male 1.02 (0.97–1.08) 0.442 0.0 0.92 (0.81–1.04)b
Female 1.11 (1.00-1.24) 0.055 0.0
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.13 (0.89–1.43) 0.315 0.0 1.09 (0.85–1.38)c
< 10.0 1.04 (0.99–1.09) 0.106 0.0
Adjusted level High 1.04 (1.00-1.09) 0.075 0.0 -
Moderate - - -
Processed meat Country Western 0.97 (0.85–1.10) 0.647 50.0 0.84 (0.63–1.13)a
Eastern 1.15 (0.89–1.49) 0.288 -
Sex Male 1.37 (0.54–3.46) 0.502 86.1 1.32 (0.49–3.53)b
Female 1.04 (0.74–1.44) 0.837 37.7
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.43 (0.96–2.13) 0.081 47.2 1.55 (1.04–2.32) c
< 10.0 0.92 (0.87–0.97) 0.002 0.0
Adjusted level High 1.00 (0.88–1.13) 0.979 52.3 -
Moderate - - -
Total red and processed meat Country Western 0.94 (0.67–1.32) 0.724 20.9 0.74 (0.48–1.15)a
Eastern 1.27 (0.96–1.68) 0.094 -
Sex Male 1.69 (0.74–3.87) 0.214 - 1.71 (0.58–5.06)b
Female 0.99 (0.49-2.00) 0.978 -
Follow-up ≥ 10.0 1.26 (0.99–1.62) 0.065 0.0 1.54 (0.96–2.45)c
< 10.0 0.82 (0.55–1.22) 0.324 23.2
Adjusted level High 1.05 (0.80–1.39) 0.709 34.1 -
Moderate - - -

*acompared Western countries with Eastern countries; bcompared male with female; ccompared follow-up ≥ 10.0 years with follow-up < 10.0 years; dcompared high adjusted level with moderate adjusted level