Cancer-related cognitive impairment in racial and ethnic minority groups: a scoping review

PurposeDisparities in cognitive function among racial and ethnic groups have been reported in non-cancer conditions, but cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in racial and ethnic minority groups is poorly understood. We aimed to synthesize and characterize the available literature about CRCI in racial and ethnic minority populations.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review in the PubMed, PsycInfo, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. Articles were included if they were published in English or Spanish, reported cognitive functioning in adults diagnosed with cancer, and characterized the race or ethnicity of the participants. Literature reviews, commentaries, letters to the editor, and gray literature were excluded.ResultsSeventy-four articles met the inclusion criteria, but only 33.8% differentiated the CRCI findings by racial or ethnic subgroups. There were associations between cognitive outcomes and the participants' race or ethnicity. Additionally, some studies found that Black and non-white individuals with cancer were more likely to experience CRCI than their white counterparts. Biological, sociocultural, and instrumentation factors were associated with CRCI differences between racial and ethnic groups.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that racial and ethnic minoritized individuals may be disparately affected by CRCI. Future research should use standardized guidelines for measuring and reporting the self-identified racial and ethnic composition of the sample; differentiate CRCI findings by racial and ethnic subgroups; consider the influence of structural racism in health outcomes; and develop strategies to promote the participation of members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

Automated summary

This scoping review synthesized the available literature on cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in racial and ethnic minority populations. The findings suggest that there are disparities in CRCI among racial and ethnic minoritized individuals, with Black and non-white patients being more likely to experience CRCI compared to their white counterparts. The study suggests the need for standardized guidelines in measuring and reporting the racial and ethnic composition of research samples, differentiation of CRCI findings by racial and ethnic subgroups, consideration of the influence of structural racism on health outcomes, and development of strategies to promote the participation of racial and ethnic minority groups.