Assessment of the prevalence and related factors of financial toxicity in cancer patients based on the COST scale: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The high cost of cancer treatment exposes patients to financial toxicity during treatment; however, no study has comprehensively analyzed the incidence of financial toxicity using a validated assessment tool. In this study, the objective was to ascertain the incidence of financial toxicity in cancer patients and the factors influencing it.

Methods: Nine electronic databases were retrieved to collect cross-sectional studies reporting financial toxicity in cancer patients. A random effects meta-analysis was applied to yield the overall prevalence of financial toxicity. Subgroup analyses were conducted depending on the factors affecting financial toxicity.

Results: In total, 30 studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of financial toxicity in cancer patients was 48% (95%CI:38%-58%, I = 99.4%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, a higher prevalence of financial toxicity in patients aged <67 years (47%, 95%CI: 28%-66%, I = 97.5%, p < 0.001), female (46%, 95%CI:39%-53%, I = 94.9%,p < 0.001), lung cancer(57%, 95%CI:38%-75%, I = 96.9%, p < 0.001), developing countries (64%, 95%CI:55%-72%, I = 98.1%, p < 0.001), time of investigation following COVID-19 (53%, 95%CI:37%-69%, I = 99.4%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Financial toxicity is prevalent in cancer patients and is increasingly evident after COVID-19. Furthermore, the odds of financial toxicity are higher in patients who are female, younger, whose cancer type is lung cancer, and from developing countries. These findings emphasize the significance of evaluating financial toxicity in cancer patients after COVID-19, especially in developing countries. This may play a pivotal role in helping patients cope with financial toxicity.