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Cited by 1,923Pain Management and Opioid UseCancer survivorship and carePediatric Pain Management Techniques

Prevalence of pain in patients with cancer: a systematic review of the past 40 years

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van den Beuken-van Everdingen, M.H.J., de Rijke, J.M., Kessels, A.G., Schouten, H.C., van Kleef, M., Patijn, J.·2007·Annals of Oncology
DOI 10.1093/annonc/mdm056
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Abstract

Background Despite the abundant literature on this topic, accurate prevalence estimates of pain in cancer patients are not available. We investigated the prevalence of pain in cancer patients according to the different disease stages and types of cancer. Patients and methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted. An instrument especially designed for judging prevalence studies on their methodological quality was used. Methodologically acceptable articles were used in the meta-analyses. Results Fifty-two studies were used in the meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence rates of pain were calculated for four subgroups: (i) studies including patients after curative treatment, 33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 21% to 46%]; (ii) studies including patients under anticancer treatment: 59% (CI 44% to 73%); (iii) studies including patients characterised as advanced/metastatic/terminal disease, 64% (CI 58% to 69%) and (iii) studies including patients at all disease stages, 53% (CI 43% to 63%). Of the patients with pain more than one-third graded their pain as moderate or severe. Pooled prevalence of pain was >50% in all cancer types with the highest prevalence in head/neck cancer patients (70%; 95% CI 51% to 88%). Conclusion Despite the clear World Health Organisation recommendations, cancer pain still is a major problem.

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  • Cancer affects quality of life from diagnosis, progression, adverse effects of treatment and diagnostic procedures by affecting physical, physiological and emotional problems of patients.

    “Cancer affects the quality of life from its starting stage of diagnosis, progression, adverse effects of its treatment and diagnostic procedures by affecting the physical, physiological and emotional problems of patients [48-56] .”

    From Alternative Medicine: New Ways to Treat Diseases and Therapies (2021) · cites this paper as [56]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes pain as a burdensome symptom in cancer patients and reports its prevalence during anticancer treatment and in advanced cancer. This supports a physical burden across some stages, but the paper does not establish the claimed effects on quality of life from diagnosis or diagnostic procedures, or the full range of physiological and emotional problems. (LLM, conf=0.79)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A meta-analysis of 52 studies reported the prevalence of pain at 59% in people undergoing cancer treatments, 64% in people with advanced or metastatic cancer, and 33% in people post-treatment.

    “In PLWC, a meta-analysis of 52 studies reported the prevalence of pain at 59% in people undergoing cancer treatments, 64% in people with advanced or metastatic cancer, and 33% in people post-treatment (van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al. 2007).”

    From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al. 2007

    The Conclusion reports pooled data from 52 articles and the stated 59% and 64% prevalence estimates. It reports 33% specifically for patients after curative treatment; the claim’s broader “post-treatment” category omits that qualification. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Across studies including patients at all disease stages, 53% of patients reported pain.

    “Across studies including patients at all disease stages, 53% of patients reported pain.”

    From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al. 2007

  • Of those with pain, more than one-third graded their pain as moderate or severe.

    “Of those with pain, more than one-third graded their pain as moderate or severe.”

    From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al. 2007

  • Pooled prevalence of pain was >50% in all cancer types, with the highest prevalence in head and neck cancer patients.

    “Pooled prevalence of pain was >50% in all cancer types, with the highest prevalence in head and neck cancer patients (van den Beukenvan Everdingen et al. 2007).”

    From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al. 2007

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Authors
van den Beuken-van Everdingen, M. H. J., de Rijke, J. M., Kessels, A. G., Schouten, H. C., van Kleef, M., & Patijn, J.
Affiliations
Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
ORCID
Schouten, H.C.
Venue
Annals of Oncology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-09
Volume
18
Issue
9
Pages
1437-1449
ISSN
0923-7534 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/annonc/mdm056
OpenAlex
W2143841439
Cited by
1,923
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 66 · 2025: 69 · 2024: 101 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 119 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 135 · 2018: 125 · 2017: 127 · 2016: 142 · 2015: 136 · 2014: 144 · 2013: 114 · 2012: 103
FWCI
7.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Annals of Oncology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
Keywords
cancer pain, prevalence, cancer patients, disease stage, metastatic cancer, head and neck cancer, pain intensity, anticancer treatment, curative treatment
MeSH terms
Antineoplastic Agents, Humans, Neoplasm Metastasis, Neoplasms, Pain, Pain Measurement, Prevalence

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