by Ivaan Pitua, Daisy Wannyana, Derrick Bary Abila, Felix Bongomin Introduction Pediatric cancer is an emerging public health priority in Africa, where survival rates remain critically low compared to high-income regions. Malnutrition; specifically wasting and cachexia; is the most prevalent, yet modifiable comorbidity that compromises treatment tolerance and increases mortality.
Recent primary studies from 2025 indicate a significant discrepancy between wasting diagnosed via clinical assessment versus anthropometrically defined wasting, suggesting a “hidden burden” of malnutrition in African oncology wards. However, no comprehensive synthesis of data exists regarding the prevalence of wasting across the continent using modern assessment standards, nor its specific impact on clinical outcomes in the current treatment era.
Methods and analysis We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control) published from January 1, 2000, to the present. Data sources will include PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL.
We will include studies involving children and adolescents (0–19 years) diagnosed with malignancies in African healthcare settings.
PLOS ONE (Medicine) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 08 May 2026.
The item focuses on Prevalence, diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes of wasting/cachexia among pediatric cancer patients in Africa: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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