A meta-analysis of male breast cancer in Africa

Abstract

To characterize male breast cancer in Africa in recent decades, we systematically reviewed literature and conducted a meta-analysis of available data on male breast cancer in Africa. A paper was included if both male and female breast cancer were available. If two publications covered the same geographic area, only the publication with a longer study period was included. Random effects models and mixed effect meta-regressions were used to analyze data of 1201 male and 36,172 female breast cancer patients from 27 African countries. We showed that the male-to-female breast cancer ratio was 0.042 overall and it has decreased in recent years. Additionally, male breast cancer patients in Africa had the disease at age 54.6 on average, 7 years older than female patients. In conclusion, male breast cancers in Africa are characterized as late onset and male-to-female breast cancer ratio in Africa is higher than populations in developed countries.