Home›Urology› Liver cancer patients experience 74% prevalence of financial toxicity with moderate severity scores
Liver cancer patients experience 74% prevalence of financial toxicity with moderate severity scoresMost liver cancer patients face high costs during their treatment
Frontiers in MedicinePublished October 16, 2026Study authors: Shangjin Li, Yuntong Liu, Yimeng Zhang, Lu Ren, Shujin Yue, Xiaoda Li, Fanping Meng, Chunxiang Su, Y…DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic
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Key Takeaway
Note the high prevalence (74%) of financial toxicity in liver cancer patients despite moderate severity scores.
This meta-analysis synthesized data from 39 studies to evaluate the prevalence and severity of patient-reported financial toxicity (FT) in patients with liver cancer. The analysis identified a pooled FT rate of 74% (95% CI: 61-85%).
Severity was assessed using multiple tools, yielding a pooled COST score of 20.80 (95% CI: 19.70-21.92) and a pooled EORTC QLQ-C30 score of 40.18 (95% CI: 27.12-53.24). These results suggest that while a large majority of patients experience financial toxicity, the severity of the impact is moderate.
The authors note significant limitations, including substantial heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of financial toxicity, a lack of standardized measurement tools, and inconsistent reporting methods across the included studies. These factors may affect the precision of the pooled estimates.
Clinically, these findings highlight the high prevalence of financial toxicity in the liver cancer population. The results suggest a need for standardized assessment tools and targeted interventions to manage the financial burden on patients, though the specific drivers of these costs were not detailed in this synthesis.
How this fits prior evidence
This meta-analysis addresses a gap in understanding the economic burden on patients with liver cancer. While prior coverage has focused on risk factors such as viral hepatitis infections and surgical techniques like hepatic vein occlusion with portal vein embolization, this study specifically quantifies the prevalence of financial toxicity. It provides a baseline for the economic impact on this specific patient population, though it does not directly relate to the previously reported findings on viral infections, microbiota transplantation, PFOA exposure, EGCG effects, or surgical outcomes.
Dealing with a liver cancer diagnosis is hard enough without the added weight of mounting medical bills. New data shows that 74% of patients with liver cancer experience financial toxicity. This means the majority of people facing this disease struggle with the costs of their care.
While the number of people facing these costs is high, the severity of the financial burden is measured as moderate. Researchers looked at 39 different studies to find these patterns. They used two different scoring systems to measure how much the costs affected patients, finding scores of 20.80 and 40.18 respectively.
Because different studies used different ways to measure and define these costs, the data can be hard to compare perfectly. However, the high rate of financial issues shows that many patients need better support. These findings suggest that doctors and hospitals need better tools to identify and help patients manage these costs early.
What this means for you:
Most liver cancer patients face significant financial burdens, highlighting a need for better cost support.
Common questions
How common is financial stress for liver cancer patients?
The data shows a high prevalence of financial toxicity among liver cancer patients. Specifically, 74% of patients reported experiencing financial toxicity, which means they faced significant financial burdens related to their medical care and treatment.
How severe is the financial impact on these patients?
While many patients experience financial toxicity, the severity of the impact is considered moderate. Researchers used two different scoring systems to measure this, finding scores of 20.80 and 40.18, which suggest a significant but moderate level of financial strain.
Financial toxicity (FT) refers to the negative impact of medical financial burden on patients’ overall health. The study aimed to quantify the prevalence and severity of patient-reported FT, identify the factors associated with FT in liver cancer patients, and thereby provide evidence to guide effective interventions to reduce the negative impacts of FT.
In this study the following peer-reviewed databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP, and Sinomed. The search was conducted from the inception of each database to March 2, 2026. Two independent authors extracted data using a standardized data extraction tool and assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. A random-effects model was applied to generate pooled estimates of FT rates and severity.
Of the 13,412 articles, 39 were included in the study. Most studies were conducted in China (26/39, 66.67%). There was significant heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of FT. The pooled FT rate was 74% (95% CI: 61–85%), indicating high prevalence. The pooled FT score was 20.80 (95% CI: 19.70–21.92) for the COST (range 0–44) and 40.18 (95% CI: 27.12–53.24) for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Items (range 0–100), reflecting a moderate level of FT. These findings suggest that liver cancer patients present a high prevalence of FT, yet the overall severity remains moderately low.
The findings of this study indicate that FT is a common but moderate issue in liver cancer care. However, the lack of standardized measurement tools and inconsistent reporting methods have impaired the comparability of available evidence. Therefore, future research should develop a validated FT assessment for liver cancer and test targeted interventions to improve care and policy.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261345754, identifier: CRD420261345754.
