Continued tobacco use beyond cancer diagnosis in India - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of cancer-related mortality, with significant implications for treatment outcomes and survival. In India, where 28.6 % of adults use tobacco, continued use after cancer diagnosis remains a major public health concern. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of continued tobacco use among cancer patients in India.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting on continued tobacco use post-cancer diagnosis in India. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar yielded 20 observational studies. Eligible studies included adult cancer patients (≥18 years) and reported prevalence of smoking, smokeless tobacco, or both after diagnosis. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed independently by authors. A random-effects model was used to compute pooled prevalence estimates. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I² statistic and Egger's test, respectively.

Twenty studies comprising 75,145 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of continued tobacco use post-diagnosis was 74 % (95 % CI: 59-84 %). Subgroup analysis showed a prevalence of 50 % (95 % CI: 39-62 %) for smoking and 34 % (95 % CI: 26-42 %) for smokeless tobacco. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² > 95 %). Evidence of publication bias was present for smoking but not for smokeless tobacco use.

Continued tobacco use among Indian cancer patients is alarmingly high, highlighting the urgent need for tobacco cessation interventions within oncology care.

The high prevalence of continued tobacco use among cancer patients in India underscores the need for national health policy to mandate routine tobacco use screening and cessation support. Integrating cessation services into cancer care can improve treatment outcomes, reduce recurrence, and lower overall healthcare costs in oncology settings.