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Suicidality risk of cancer caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Xia-Yin Zhu·Lu-Yi Hu·Min-Ya Jin·Tao-Hsin Tung
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The increase in the number of global cancer cases is expected to lead to a greater caregiving burden. However, few studies have investigated the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to explore the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers. METHODS: For this systematic review, a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science databases, PsycINFO and Scopus databases was conducted from inception to 16 July 2025. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) for case-control and cross-sectional studies and the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for cohort studies. RESULTS: Seven studies were included (four cohort studies, one case-control study and two cross-sectional studies), and 638,188 study subjects and 4,203,957 nonexposed subjects. The meta-analyses revealed that the ORs was 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-2.49) in the case-control study, cross-sectional studies, and one cohort study which reported ORs, and the aHRs was 1.32 (95% CI: 1.16-1.50) in the three cohort studies. Caregivers of patients with highly aggressive cancers had a greater risk of suicidality (aHR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.48-1.86). Within the first 7 years following a patient's cancer diagnosis, the risk of suicidality among caregivers remained elevated (aHR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04-1.94). CONCLUSION: The results indicate the need for both clinical and societal awareness to reduce the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers, especially those with highly aggressive cancers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered prospectively in PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) with the registration number (PROSPERO CRD420251011926) and date of registration(15/03/2025).

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HumansNeoplasmsCaregiversObservational Studies as TopicRisk FactorsSuicideCross-Sectional StudiesCase-Control StudiesOdds RatioSuicidal IdeationCancercaregiversmeta-analysisobservational studysuicidalityJournal ArticleSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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Xia-Yin Zhu, Lu-Yi Hu, Min-Ya Jin, Tao-Hsin Tung. 2026-02-02. Suicidality risk of cancer caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2026.2624214

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Cancer subjectCase-Control Studies subjectCross-Sectional Studies subjectHumans subjectJournal Article subjectJournal Article; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't resourceMeta-Analysis subjectNeoplasms subjectObservational Studies as Topic subjectObservational Study subjectOdds Ratio subjectSystematic reviews study

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