Advanced breast cancer at diagnosis varied widely across Arab countries
The review found a high pooled proportion of advanced diagnoses, with substantial variation between settings. It did not test strategies for earlier detection.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Advanced disease was common at diagnosis in the included studies, but the pooled estimate conceals large differences between settings. The review describes women already diagnosed with breast cancer. It does not identify why diagnosis occurred late or establish which screening or access strategy would reduce advanced diagnoses or deaths.
The included studies differed substantially, and a statistical test suggested small-study effects. The abstract does not explain how differences in populations or methods contributed to variation in the regional estimate.
What researchers found
Pooled prevalence of stage III–IV breast cancer
At diagnosis among included women; a descriptive estimate across settings, with no treatment comparator.
What was counted
Researchers combined studies reporting the stage of breast cancer when women were diagnosed. The estimate describes how often advanced disease appeared among those diagnoses; it does not measure a woman's chance of developing cancer.
Why the variation matters
Country estimates differed significantly, so the regional average did not describe every setting equally well. Those differences cannot show which features of healthcare, diagnosis, or the study methods account for the variation.
The original publication
Prevalence of advanced-stage breast cancer at diagnosis in Arab countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Elhadi YAM, Al-Rifai RH, Elbarazi I et al.
Cancer Epidemiol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40946600
- Record checked
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