Prevalence of depression in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care: a meta-analysis of self‐report instruments

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The meta-analysis included 29 studies with 6054 patients, revealing a pooled prevalence of depression at 50.9% among advanced cancer patients in palliative care.
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Subgroup analyses indicated significant variability in depression prevalence based on study design and assessment tools used.
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The findings highlight the high prevalence of depression in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care, necessitating effective screening and intervention.
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Statistical heterogeneity in the pooled estimate remained largely unexplained despite conducting subgroup analyses and meta-regression.
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The study emphasizes the importance of using validated self-report instruments for assessing depression in this vulnerable patient population.

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