Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42535976›Full record

SynthesisCancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)2026

Acute and Chronic Leukemia in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Allwell A Ayirebi, Stephen Twumasi, Linda K Olaga, Benedict Sackey, Daniel N M Antonio, Richard O Ansah, Eugene A Ansah, John A Sah, Enoch O Anto, Yvonne Anang-Quartey and 8 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Allwell A AyirebiAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0805-9829
Stephen TwumasiAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8199-5806
Linda K OlagaDepartment of Hematology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1696-3334
Benedict SackeyDepartment of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1016-7720
Daniel N M AntonioAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8953-5700
Richard O AnsahAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3219-9320
Eugene A AnsahDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9845-3114
John A SahAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0607-8581
Enoch O AntoSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9023-6612
Yvonne Anang-QuarteyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5236-8910
Antoinette KoomsonAllwell Cancer Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8679-3027
Angela OpokuLaboratory Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0316-3845
Godfred A DonkorHematology Unit, Laboratory Division, Kuntanase Government Hospital, Bosomtwe, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0390-5772
Paulina DuahCollege of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3132-3035
Ama G BoaduDepartment of Rheumatology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9060-763X
Samuel Essien-BaidooSchool of Allied Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8618-6648
Wina I O BoaduDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Medicare College of Applied Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2660-1707
Lilian A BoatengDepartment of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5635-7939

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe four primary subgroups of leukemia include chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Very little is known about the regional variation of leukemia and subtypes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

aimsThis systematic review focused on the prevalent cases reported in sub-Saharan Africa, throwing more emphasis on treatment outcomes, follow up time and survival rates.

methodsA systematic review of studies on acute and chronic leukemia in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was conducted using articles retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase and African-specific databases such as African Journals Online (AJOL), covering publications from 1975 to July 15, 2025.

resultsA total of 94 studies were subjected to initial screening from study titles. Thirty-two (32) articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. Out of 2537 leukemia cases reported in the 32 studies, 1644 (64.80%) were acute and 893 (35.20%) were chronic. AML accounted for 947 (37.33%), 450 (17.74%) were ALL, 720 (28.38%) were CML, 173 (6.82%) were CLL, 2 (0.08%) were acute undifferentiated leukemia, 1 (0.04%) was mixed phenotype acute leukemia and 244 (9.62%) unclassified leukemias. Survival rates ranged from 2 weeks to 5 years. Fifty-nine patients were lost to follow up and follow up time ranged from 11 months to 7 years. 273 (10.76%) leukemia related deaths were reported.

conclusionThis review found that acute leukemias were more prevalent than chronic leukemias, with AML emerging as the most frequently reported subtype. Survival durations ranged from a few weeks to five years; however, overall outcomes remained poor, characterized by high mortality rates and substantial loss to follow-up. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved diagnostic capacity, standardized treatment protocols, and strengthened patient monitoring and follow-up systems to enhance leukemia care and outcomes.

Indexed as

Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-CellLeukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL PositiveLeukemia, Myeloid, AcutePrecursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaAfrica South of the SaharaHumansPrevalenceSurvival Rateacute leukemiaALLAMLchronic leukemiaCLLCMLleukemiasub‐Saharan Africasystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42535976
PMCPMC13426333

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.