Treatment-related mortality in children with cancer in low-income and middle-income countries
Topic overview
Systematic review of 501 studies across 68,351 pediatric cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries reveals treatment-related mortality of 6.82%, with rates inversely correlated to country income level (14.19% in low-income vs 4.47% in upper-middle-income countries). Treatment-related deaths account for nearly one-third of all mortality in these settings.
Key takeaways
- Treatment-related mortality in LMICs is 6.82%, accounting for nearly one-third of all childhood cancer deaths
- Treatment-related mortality inversely correlates with country income: 14.19% (low-income) vs 4.47% (upper-middle-income)
- Upper-middle-income countries show declining treatment-related mortality over time; low-income countries show no improvement
- Targeted supportive care interventions are urgently needed to reduce treatment-related deaths in resource-limited settings
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