Suicidality risk of cancer caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background: The increase in the number of global cancer cases is expected to lead to a greater caregiving burden. However, few studies have investigated the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to explore the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers. Methods: For this systematic review, a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science databases, PsycINFO and Scopus databases was conducted from inception to 16 July 2025. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) for case-control and cross-sectional studies and the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for cohort studies. Results: Seven studies were included (four cohort studies, one case-control study and two cross-sectional studies), and 638,188 study subjects and 4,203,957 nonexposed subjects. The meta-analyses revealed that the ORs was 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46–2.49) in the case-control study, cross-sectional studies, and one cohort study which reported ORs, and the aHRs was 1.32 (95% CI: 1.16–1.50) in the three cohort studies. Caregivers of patients with highly aggressive cancers had a greater risk of suicidality (aHR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.48–1.86). Within the first 7 years following a patient’s cancer diagnosis, the risk of suicidality among caregivers remained elevated (aHR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04–1.94). Conclusion: The results indicate the need for both clinical and societal awareness to reduce the risk of suicidality among cancer caregivers, especially those with highly aggressive cancers. Trial registration: Registered prospectively in PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ ) with the registration number (PROSPERO CRD420251011926) and date of registration(15/03/2025).