Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Introduction Siblings of children with cancer may be vulnerable to compromised long‐term health. We aimed to describe the frequency (prevalence, incidence) of adverse physical health outcomes and healthcare service utilization among siblings of children with cancer and compare the risk of t...

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Main Authors: Victorine Sirveaux, Lily Puterman‐Salzman, Yue Qian Zhang, Eleni Sotirakos, Philippe Dodin, Guillaume Dumas, Eyal Cohen, Nadia Roumeliotis, Petros Pechlivanoglou, Hallie Coltin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71035
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author Victorine Sirveaux
Lily Puterman‐Salzman
Yue Qian Zhang
Eleni Sotirakos
Philippe Dodin
Guillaume Dumas
Eyal Cohen
Nadia Roumeliotis
Petros Pechlivanoglou
Hallie Coltin
author_facet Victorine Sirveaux
Lily Puterman‐Salzman
Yue Qian Zhang
Eleni Sotirakos
Philippe Dodin
Guillaume Dumas
Eyal Cohen
Nadia Roumeliotis
Petros Pechlivanoglou
Hallie Coltin
author_sort Victorine Sirveaux
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Introduction Siblings of children with cancer may be vulnerable to compromised long‐term health. We aimed to describe the frequency (prevalence, incidence) of adverse physical health outcomes and healthcare service utilization among siblings of children with cancer and compare the risk of the above outcomes to siblings of children without cancer. Methods We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Clarivate Web of Science through June 15, 2024. We included English and French‐language studies, both with and without a healthy control population, that reported adverse physical health outcomes and/or healthcare service utilization outcomes among siblings of children with cancer. Studies focusing exclusively on mental health or quality of life were excluded. Abstracts were screened by two reviewers; full‐text articles underwent data abstraction and risk of bias assessment. Results were synthesized descriptively. Results Of 26,570 studies screened, 44 were included. Heterogeneity was observed in all reported outcomes: mortality; cancer; organ system disease; overweight/obesity; pain; congenital anomalies; comorbidities; infections; amputations; adverse health behavior (smoking, alcohol consumption); infertility; healthcare service utilization (hospitalization, emergency department/urgent care visits, prescriptions). We detected a trend toward increased risk of cancer, hospitalizations, and prescription medication use compared to control siblings. Significant study heterogeneity rendered meta‐analyses inappropriate. Conclusions Siblings of children with cancer are likely vulnerable to various adverse health outcomes. However, the published literature is widely heterogeneous regarding study design, populations, and outcomes measurements, limiting our comprehensive analysis of risk. Future research with homogenized methodology is needed to better quantify risk, which would inform targeted surveillance guidelines and interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-ea39e7d0b1864768b43565b4a5f5e5942025-08-20T03:46:34ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-08-011415n/an/a10.1002/cam4.71035Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic ReviewVictorine Sirveaux0Lily Puterman‐Salzman1Yue Qian Zhang2Eleni Sotirakos3Philippe Dodin4Guillaume Dumas5Eyal Cohen6Nadia Roumeliotis7Petros Pechlivanoglou8Hallie Coltin9Centre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaCentre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaCentre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaSickKids Research Institute Toronto Ontario CanadaCHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaCentre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaSickKids Research Institute Toronto Ontario CanadaCentre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaSickKids Research Institute Toronto Ontario CanadaCentre de Recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‐Justine Montréal Quebec CanadaABSTRACT Introduction Siblings of children with cancer may be vulnerable to compromised long‐term health. We aimed to describe the frequency (prevalence, incidence) of adverse physical health outcomes and healthcare service utilization among siblings of children with cancer and compare the risk of the above outcomes to siblings of children without cancer. Methods We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Clarivate Web of Science through June 15, 2024. We included English and French‐language studies, both with and without a healthy control population, that reported adverse physical health outcomes and/or healthcare service utilization outcomes among siblings of children with cancer. Studies focusing exclusively on mental health or quality of life were excluded. Abstracts were screened by two reviewers; full‐text articles underwent data abstraction and risk of bias assessment. Results were synthesized descriptively. Results Of 26,570 studies screened, 44 were included. Heterogeneity was observed in all reported outcomes: mortality; cancer; organ system disease; overweight/obesity; pain; congenital anomalies; comorbidities; infections; amputations; adverse health behavior (smoking, alcohol consumption); infertility; healthcare service utilization (hospitalization, emergency department/urgent care visits, prescriptions). We detected a trend toward increased risk of cancer, hospitalizations, and prescription medication use compared to control siblings. Significant study heterogeneity rendered meta‐analyses inappropriate. Conclusions Siblings of children with cancer are likely vulnerable to various adverse health outcomes. However, the published literature is widely heterogeneous regarding study design, populations, and outcomes measurements, limiting our comprehensive analysis of risk. Future research with homogenized methodology is needed to better quantify risk, which would inform targeted surveillance guidelines and interventions.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71035adverse physical healthhealthcare service utilizationpediatric cancersiblings
spellingShingle Victorine Sirveaux
Lily Puterman‐Salzman
Yue Qian Zhang
Eleni Sotirakos
Philippe Dodin
Guillaume Dumas
Eyal Cohen
Nadia Roumeliotis
Petros Pechlivanoglou
Hallie Coltin
Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
Cancer Medicine
adverse physical health
healthcare service utilization
pediatric cancer
siblings
title Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
title_full Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
title_short Adverse Physical Health Outcomes and Healthcare Service Utilization in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review
title_sort adverse physical health outcomes and healthcare service utilization in siblings of children with cancer a systematic review
topic adverse physical health
healthcare service utilization
pediatric cancer
siblings
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71035
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