Age difference of patients with and without invasive aspergillosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shekhova, Elena, Salazar, Fabián, Da Silva Dantas, Alessandra, Chakraborty, Tanmoy, Wooding, Eva L., White, P. Lewis and Warris, Adilia 2024. Age difference of patients with and without invasive aspergillosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases 24 (1) , 220. 10.1186/s12879-024-09109-2

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Abstract

Background: Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening fungal disease with significant mortality rates. Timely diagnosis and treatment greatly enhance patient outcomes. This study aimed to explore the association between patient age and the development of IA, as well as the potential implications for risk stratification strategies. Methods: We searched National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases for publications until October 2023 containing age characteristics of patients with and without IA. A random-effects model with the application of inverse-variance weighting was used to pool reported estimates from each study, and meta-regression and subgroup analyses were utilized to assess sources of heterogeneity. Results: A systematic review was conducted, resulting in the inclusion of 55 retrospective observational studies with a total of 13,983 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that, on average, patients with IA were approximately two and a half years older (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.84–3.31 years; I2 = 26.1%) than those without the disease (p < 0.0001). No significant moderators could explain the observed heterogeneity in age difference. However, subgroup analysis revealed that age differences were more pronounced within particular patient groups compared to others. For example, patients with and without IA who had primary severe lung infections exhibited a greater difference in mean age than other patient cohorts. Conclusions: Further research, such as individual patient data meta-analysis, is necessary to better understand the potential relationship between increasing age and the likelihood of IA. Improved risk stratification strategies based on patient age could potentially enhance the early detection and treatment of IA, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, Type: open-access
Publisher:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1471-2334
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	20 February 2024
Date of Acceptance:	6 February 2024
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2024 16:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166400

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