ObjectiveTo systematically review the accuracy of the global leadership initiative on malnutrition (GLIM) in screening patients with cancer malnutrition. MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, SinoMed, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect diagnostic tests related to the objects from January 2019 to March 2024. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 15.0 software. ResultsA total of 12 studies were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition had a sensitivity of 0.69 (95%CI 0.63 to 0.76), specificity of 0.90 (95%CI 0.83 to 0.95), positive likelihood ratio of 7.18 (95%CI 4.17 to 12.35), negative likelihood ratio of 0.34 (95%CI 0.28 to 0.41), diagnostic odds ratio of 21.21 (95%CI 11.96 to 37.62), and area under the curve of 0.84 (95%CI 0.80 to 0.87). ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that the GLIM criteria have diagnostic value as a tool for malnutrition in cancer patients, with moderate overall diagnostic efficacy.