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Cited by 421Nursing care and researchCancer survivorship and careFamily Caregiving in Mental Illness

Prevalence and determinants of depression in caregivers of cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Geng, Hai-mei, Chuang, Dong-mei, Yang, Fang, Yang, Yang, Liu, Wei-min, Liu, Li-hui, Tian, Hong-mei·2018·Medicine
DOI 10.1097/md.0000000000011863PMC PMC6181540
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence rate of depression in cancer patient caregivers and to identify factors affecting depression and quality of life of cancer caregivers. METHODS: Relevant research articles were retrieved after literature search in several electronic databases. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled estimates of the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety; their respective scores, and quality of life scores. Significant relationships between depression and factors related to depression and quality of life reported in individual studies were identified. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included. Overall, 21,149 caregivers were appraised in these studies (age 52.65 years [95% CI: 49.65, 55.65]; 31.14% [28.40, 33.89] men). The prevalence of depression and anxiety were 42.30% [33.31, 51.29] % and 46.55% [35.59, 57.52], respectively. Quality of life score, as measured with Caregiver Quality of Life-Cancer scale was 64.55 [47.44, 81.66]. Patient's condition, caregiving burden, duration of caregiving, spouse caregiver, caregiver being unemployed, caregiver with chronic disease, caregiver's sleep quality, caregiver's avoidance, financial problems, and female sex were positively associated with depression whereas overall quality of life of caregiver, pre-loss grief, caregiver's education level, caregiver's age, caregiver's sense of coherence, and caregiver's bondage with patient were negatively associated with depression in caregivers. CONCLUSION: A considerably high prevalence of depression is found in cancer patient caregivers. Several factors may affect depression and their quality of life of cancer patient caregivers.

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  • The identified risk factors (time of care, lack of training, absence of family help, economic difficulties) coincide with the determinants described by Geng et al. and with the Gérain and Zech model.

    “Los factores de riesgo identificados, como el tiempo de cuidado, la falta de formación, la ausencia de ayuda familiar y las dificultades económicas, coinciden con los determinantes descritos por Geng et al. (6) y con el modelo de Gérain y Zech”

    From Síndrome de burnout en cuidadores familiares de pacientes oncológicos: revisión sistemática (2026) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Results and Conclusion (pages not provided) associate depressive symptoms with longer caregiving duration and financial problems, and report an association with lower social support. They do not specifically identify absence of family help or lack of caregiver training as determinants: the Discussion recommends training, while the reported association concerns education level. This verdict addresses the comparison with Geng et al., not the separate Gérain and Zech model. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Geng et al. identified as associated factors burden, care duration, economic difficulties, female sex, and lack of social support.

    “señalaron como factores asociados la sobrecarga, la duración del cuidado, las dificultades económicas, el sexo femenino y la escasez de apoyo social (6).”

    From Síndrome de burnout en cuidadores familiares de pacientes oncológicos: revisión sistemática (2026) · cites this paper as [6]

  • In a meta-analysis of 30 studies with more than 21,000 caregivers of cancer patients, Geng et al. estimated a prevalence of depression of 42.3% and anxiety of 46.6%.

    “En un metaanálisis de 30 estudios con más de 21 000 cuidadores de pacientes con cáncer, Geng et al. estimaron una prevalencia de depresión del 42,3 % y de ansiedad del 46,6 %”

    From Síndrome de burnout en cuidadores familiares de pacientes oncológicos: revisión sistemática (2026) · cites this paper as [6]

  • These results agree with international evidence that describes effects of caregiving on the physical and psychological health of the caregiver and a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in this population.

    “Estos resultados concuerdan con la evidencia internacional, que describe efectos del cuidado sobre la salud física y psicológica del cuidador (3) y una elevada prevalencia de depresión y ansiedad en esta población (6).”

    From Síndrome de burnout en cuidadores familiares de pacientes oncológicos: revisión sistemática (2026) · cites this paper as [6]

  • A study found a considerably high prevalence of depression in cancer patients' caregivers.

    “In a study to estimate the prevalence rate of depression in cancer patient informal caregivers and to identify factors affecting depression and quality of life of cancer caregivers found out that a considerably high prevalence of depression is found in cancer patients’ caregivers.”

    From Preparedness, resilience and unmet needs of informal caregivers of advanced cancer patients in a Regional Mission Hospital in Kenya: Qualitative Study (2023) · cites this paper as [13]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Geng, H.-M., Chuang, D.-M., Yang, F., Yang, Y., Liu, W.-M., Liu, L.-H., & Tian, H.-M.
ORCID
Venue
Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2018-09
Volume
97
Issue
39
Pages
e11863
ISSN
0025-7974 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/md.0000000000011863
PMC
PMC6181540
OpenAlex
W2894825479
Cited by
421
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 72 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 14
FWCI
6.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
Keywords
depression, cancer caregivers, caregiver burden, quality of life, anxiety, prevalence, risk factors, sleep quality, sense of coherence, financial problems, spousal caregivers
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Risk Factors, Prevalence, Caregivers

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