Title: Risk factors related to age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: A retrospective cohort pilot
study
Version: 2 Date: 28 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript evaluated the correlation between age of first exposure to risk factors and
pancreatic cancer onset. This manuscript states some important issues regarding pancreatic
cancer onset. However further discussion would be required to confirm this conclusion.
Therefore, authors would clarify several matters that mentioned below.
1. Authors reported about a significant correlation between the age at which alcohol consumption
was started and the age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, alcohol intake might be more
important than alcohol consumption regarding pancreatic cancer onset. Even if the age of alcohol
consumption was earlier, there are many people who don’t drink very much. Some studies
reported that alcohol abuse is risk factor of pancreatic cancer onset. Authors could classify What
is the etiology of pancreatic cancer due to the age at which alcohol consumption?
2. In the first place, what is the meaning about the age of alcohol consumption among patients
with pancreatic cancer? Epidemiologically, shouldn't authors discuss the age at which alcohol
begins between people with pancreatic cancer and those without pancreatic cancer?
3. There seems to be severe bias due to too small sample size in this study. However, as authors
said, this pilot study might demonstrate the feasibility of a large study based on this study
design. Therefore, author could provide the specific protocol which includes sample size based
on evidence for setting cases in Discussion.
Title: Risk factors related to age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: A retrospective cohort pilot
study
Version: 2 Date: 28 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript evaluated the correlation between age of first exposure to risk factors and
pancreatic cancer onset. This manuscript states some important issues regarding pancreatic
cancer onset. However further discussion would be required to confirm this conclusion.
Therefore, authors would clarify several matters that mentioned below.
1. Authors reported about a significant correlation between the age at which alcohol consumption
was started and the age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, alcohol intake might be more
important than alcohol consumption regarding pancreatic cancer onset. Even if the age of alcohol
consumption was earlier, there are many people who don’t drink very much. Some studies
reported that alcohol abuse is risk factor of pancreatic cancer onset. Authors could classify What
is the etiology of pancreatic cancer due to the age at which alcohol consumption?
2. In the first place, what is the meaning about the age of alcohol consumption among patients
with pancreatic cancer? Epidemiologically, shouldn't authors discuss the age at which alcohol
begins between people with pancreatic cancer and those without pancreatic cancer?
3. There seems to be severe bias due to too small sample size in this study. However, as authors
said, this pilot study might demonstrate the feasibility of a large study based on this study
design. Therefore, author could provide the specific protocol which includes sample size based
on evidence for setting cases in Discussion.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Risk factors related to age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: A retrospective cohort pilot
study
Version: 2 Date: 28 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript evaluated the correlation between age of first exposure to risk factors and
pancreatic cancer onset. This manuscript states some important issues regarding pancreatic
cancer onset. However further discussion would be required to confirm this conclusion.
Therefore, authors would clarify several matters that mentioned below.
1. Authors reported about a significant correlation between the age at which alcohol consumption
was started and the age at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, alcohol intake might be more
important than alcohol consumption regarding pancreatic cancer onset. Even if the age of alcohol
consumption was earlier, there are many people who don’t drink very much. Some studies
reported that alcohol abuse is risk factor of pancreatic cancer onset. Authors could classify What
is the etiology of pancreatic cancer due to the age at which alcohol consumption?
2. In the first place, what is the meaning about the age of alcohol consumption among patients
with pancreatic cancer? Epidemiologically, shouldn't authors discuss the age at which alcohol
begins between people with pancreatic cancer and those without pancreatic cancer?
3. There seems to be severe bias due to too small sample size in this study. However, as authors
said, this pilot study might demonstrate the feasibility of a large study based on this study
design. Therefore, author could provide the specific protocol which includes sample size based
on evidence for setting cases in Discussion.
assistant