Middle Eastern Patients with Breast Cancer and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Context: 

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer diagnosed in women and the second most common cancer worldwide.

This study aimed to determine the rates of depression and identify the characteristics that put women at risk for developing depression while coping with BC in the Middle East. Evidence Acquisition: The present meta-analysis was performed by searching for keywords related to BC and depression in Middle East countries, including Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey, in 4 main databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) between January 2000 and November 2021. The results were analyzed using R and CMA software.

Fifteen English-language papers were included in this meta-analysis. The estimated prevalence of depression was 40.8% among a total of 2369 BC women, with the highest depression rate (83.9%) among Pakistani women (95% CI, 73.6 - 89.5; P = 0.000) and the lowest depression rate (27.5%) among Turkish women (95% CI, 17.2 - 40.9; P = 0.002). The women who were under treatment had higher levels of depression compared with those who were treated.

The diagnosis of depression during a clinical treatment process can provide accurate assessments of the mental and social well-being of patients and consequently inform them about their own care. Thus, cancer treatment centers need to integrate mental illness assessment and support significant parts of the treatment plan to prevent and treat depression among BC patients.