Revista de ensayos clínicos sobre el cáncer

Time-to-Death Predictors on Breast Cancer Patients in Northern Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Bsrat Tesfay Hagos* and Gebru Gebremeskel Gebrerufael

Background: Breast Cancer (BC) is still a global public health issue that affects both industrialized and developing nations. It is the type of cancer that affects women most frequently in sub-Saharan African nations, particularly in Ethiopia. Despite the overwhelming difficulty, Ethiopian researchers have not yet identified the factors linked to mortality. Aside than that, there aren't many studies in this field. Therefore, the main goal of this analysis was to identify the most important factors that contributed to BC patients in Northern Ethiopia having shorter survival times.

Methods: 146 women in Northern Ethiopia who had BC were the subjects of an institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study design that ran from September 12, 2015, to March 9, 2019. The STATA 14 program was used to conduct the statistical analysis. In order to identify predictors, a log-normal regression model and the Kaplan-Meier curve were both used.

Results: In Northern Ethiopia, the overall death rate prevalence was 18.5%. Retrospective monitoring of the chosen patients lasted an estimated 28.12 months on average. The age range of patients was 23-78 years with a median of 48 years. The multivariable Lognormal model analysis revealed, being distant metastatic ATR=0.52, CI=(0.341, 0.787), regional metastatic (ATR=0.63, (0.423, 0.924)), age (ATR=0.98, 95% CI: (0.968-0.997), baseline tumor size (ATR=0.98, 95% CI: (0.968, 0.996), clinical stage IV ATR= 0.48, 95% CI: (0.297-0.789), illiterate ATR=0.52, 95% CI: (0.325-0.823), and Rural residence ATR=0.68, 95% CI: (0.516-0.904) were found to be critical risk factors of time to death breast cancer patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence fatality rate among BC patients in Northern Ethiopia remains a serious public health issue, the research showed. Being clinical stage IV, distant and regional metastasis, illiteracy education level, baseline tumor size, rural residence, and old Age were discovered to be the most significant risk factors for patients' time to death. As a result, the government and other interested parties must address educational possibilities; raising awareness about the diagnosis of advanced disease and providing helpful advice on screening programs in a timely manner will lower the death rate and increase patient survival.