Taste Alterations in Pediatric Oncology Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and aim: Taste alterations are common yet often overlooked side effects in pediatric oncology patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), impacting nutrition and quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment phase-specific changes in taste perception among these patients.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across 6 academic databases-PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (via Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL-covering publications up to February 13, 2025. Data extraction and quality appraisal were independently performed by 2 reviewers using the QualSyst tool (The Standardized Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Articles from Various Fields) for quantitative studies. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42025646761) and conducted by the PRISMA guidelines.

Results: The included studies involved 1,403 pediatric patients aged 0.4-29.9 years. Taste alterations were prevalent, particularly during the early post-transplant phases, with symptoms including dysgeusia, changes in taste thresholds, and reduced sensitivity to sweet and salty tastes. The meta-analysis revealed an event rate of 0.457 (95% CI: 0.330-0.590), which was not statistically significant (P = .529).

Conclusion: Taste alterations are frequent in pediatric HSCT patients, varying by treatment phase and assessment method. Early identification and management strategies are essential to mitigate their impact on nutrition and quality of life. Further research is needed to standardize assessment tools and intervention strategies.