Abstract
BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the commonest cancers associated with diverse prognosis times in different parts of the world. Despite medical interventions, the overall clinical outcomes and survival remains very poor for most patients in developing countries. This study therefore investigated the survival rate of colorectal cancer and its prognostic factors among patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana.MethodologyIn this retrospective cohort study, a total of 221 patients diagnosed with CRC from 2009 to 2015 at the Surgical and Oncological units of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana were employed. The survival graphs were obtained using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by the Log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was used to assess prognostic factors. All analyses were performed by SPSS version 22.ResultsThe median survival time was 15 months 95% CI (11.79–18.21). The overall survival rate for CRC over the 5 years period was 16.0%. The survival rates at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th years were 64% 95% CI (56.2–71.1), 40% 95% CI (32.2–50.1), 21% 95% CI (11.4–30.6) 16% 95% CI (8.9–26.9) and 16% 95% CI (7.3–24.9). There was a significant difference in the survival rate of colorectal cancer according to the different stages (p = 0.0001). Family history [HR = (3.44), p = 0.029)], Chemotherapy [HR = (0.23), p = <0.0001)], BMI [HR = (1.78), p = 0.017)] and both chemo/radiotherapy (HR = (3.63), p = 0.042)] were the significant social and clinical factors influencing the overall survival. Pathological factors such as TNM tumour stage (p = 0.012), depth of tumour invasion (p = 0.036), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0001), and distance metastasis (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with overall survival.ConclusionThe study has clearly demonstrated that survival rate for CRC patients at KATH, Ghana is very low in a 5 years period. This is influenced by significant number of clinical and pathological prognostic factors. Identification of prognostic factors would be a primary basis for early prediction and treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer is one of the commonest cancers and in the western countries; it is the second leading cause of cancer mortality. [1]
There was a significant difference in the survival rate of colorectal cancer according to the different stages (p = 0.0001)
The study has clearly demonstrated that survival rate for Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana is very low in a 5 years period
Summary
Colorectal cancer is one of the commonest cancers and in the western countries; it is the second leading cause of cancer mortality. [1]. The difference in survival rates observed in various clinical trials maybe due to the variations in patient’s characteristics and prognostic factors [2]. Enormous disparities in colorectal cancer survival exist within regions and across the global [4, 5]. These differences are not understood, most of the disparities in CRC survival can be attributed to variation in the accessibility to treatment and diagnostics [5]. Even for individual patients with same stage tumours, response to treatment and long term prognosis varies[6]. This study investigated the survival rate of colorectal cancer and its prognostic factors among patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
