Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41973323›Full record

ArticleJournal of gastrointestinal cancer2026

Age-Based Left-Digit Bias in the Treatment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Qianyun Luo, Bethel Ozed-Williams, David G Brauer, Bryan Trottier, Todd M Tuttle, Jane Y C Hui, Eric H Jensen, Jacob S Ankeny, Christopher J LaRocca, Schelomo Marmor

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Qianyun LuoUniversity of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9453-8279
Bethel Ozed-WilliamsDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
David G BrauerDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Bryan TrottierDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Todd M TuttleDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Jane Y C HuiDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Eric H JensenDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Jacob S AnkenyDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Christopher J LaRoccaDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Schelomo MarmorDivision of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. marm0014@umn.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeLeft digit bias, where the left-most digit disproportionately influences decision-making, can impact treatment decisions and patient outcomes. This study examines how such bias may affect treatment decisions for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), focusing on differences between patients aged 79 and 80.

methodA retrospective cohort study using the National Cancer Database (2004–2020) analyzed patients with PDAC aged 79 and 80. The primary exposure was age-based left-digit bias. The main outcomes measured included differences in treatment received and overall survival. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, regression discontinuity analysis, multivariate analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional hazards models.

resultsAmong 5,304 patients (2,718 aged 79, 2,586 aged 80), chemotherapy use was higher in 79-year-olds (50.3%) than 80-year-olds (45.1%) (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70–0.89, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in surgery or radiation. Chemotherapy was associated with lower mortality risk (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.92, p < 0.01). Adjusted overall survival was similar between groups (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.93–1.07, p = 0.91).

conclusionLeft digit bias was observed in the treatment of PDAC, with a tendency to favor chemotherapy for patients aged 79 over 80. This highlights the need for age-neutral decision-making in treatment planning to avoid biases that could impact patient care and outcomes.

Indexed as

AdenocarcinomaClinical Decision-MakingPancreatic NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsBiasDecision MakingFemaleHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesChemotherapyCognitive BiasDecision MakingGeriatric AssessmentHealth Disparities

Identifiers

PMID41973323
PMCPMC13076376

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.