To determine the pooled prevalence of depression in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care and identify potential moderating factors.
Approach:
Literature Search: A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases from inception to October 2023.
Key Findings:
The pooled prevalence of depression in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care was 50.9% (95% CI: 41.2-60.5%).
Significant variation in prevalence was observed based on study design and assessment tools.
Interpretation:
Limitations:
High statistical heterogeneity remained largely unexplained despite subgroup analyses and meta-regression.
Variability in study characteristics, including demographics and assessment tools, may affect the pooled estimates.
Conclusion:
Depression is prevalent among advanced cancer patients in palliative care, and the pooled estimates should be interpreted with caution due to high statistical heterogeneity.
