The Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy Intervention on Anthropometric Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

David Hart; Lawrence Mbuagbaw; Joseph Beyene; Marwa Akola; Sarah Burrow; M Constantine Samaan; Lehana Thabane; Adam Fleming; Donna L Johnston; Shahrad R Rassekh; Laura Banfield; Russell J de Souza

doi:10.1111/obr.70126

PubMed · 41918484

The Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy Intervention on Anthropometric Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

David Hart·Lawrence Mbuagbaw·Joseph Beyene·Marwa Akola·Sarah Burrow·M Constantine Samaan·Lehana Thabane·Adam Fleming·Donna L Johnston·Shahrad R Rassekh·Laura Banfield·Russell J de Souza

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Many survivors of childhood brain tumors face long-term adverse health outcomes like obesity. Uncertainties surround the effect of interventions to manage obesity-related outcomes in survivors of childhood brain tumors. The goal of this updated systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide the best estimate of the treatment efficacy of pharmacotherapy intervention on anthropometric outcomes in this pediatric population. METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ProQuest for articles published from January 1, 2015, to January 31, 2025. A meta-analysis was performed using the generic inverse-variance method in RevMan 5.4. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q test and the I2 statistic. We used the GRADE approach to determine the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria: four newly identified studies published after January 1, 2015 (125 participants), and two from the previously published review (23 participants). The pooled estimate showed no significant change in body mass index z-score after intervention (mean difference = -0.02; 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.02, I2 = 0%; 4 studies, 94 participants; low certainty of evidence). Similar pooled effects were observed across other outcomes; however, individual studies reported significant changes in some outcomes within the treatment groups after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Pharmacological agents showed no significant change in anthropometric outcomes for survivors of childhood brain tumors. Further trials are needed to assess the efficacy of pharmacological agents and to identify subgroups most likely to benefit.

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Humans Brain Neoplasms Child Pediatric Obesity Cancer Survivors Body Mass Index Treatment Outcome Anthropometry childhood brain tumors obesity pharmacotherapy randomized controlled trials Journal Article Systematic Review Meta-Analysis Review

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David Hart, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Joseph Beyene, Marwa Akola, Sarah Burrow, M Constantine Samaan, Lehana Thabane, Adam Fleming, Donna L Johnston, Shahrad R Rassekh, Laura Banfield, Russell J de Souza. 2026-04-01. The Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy Intervention on Anthropometric Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70126

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Anthropometry subject Body Mass Index subject Brain Neoplasms subject Child subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Journal Article; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis; Review resource Meta-Analysis subject Obesity subject Pharmacotherapy subject Systematic reviews study

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