Determinants of survival in children with cancer in Johannesburg, South Africa

SA Journal of Oncology

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Determinants of survival in children with cancer in Johannesburg, South Africa
 
Creator Beringer, Nadia Bennett, Kate G. Poole, Janet E. Geel, Jennifer A.
 
Subject — childhood cancer; survival; risk factors; undernutrition ; ethnicity; stage; South Africa
Description Background: Childhood cancer, although rare, remains an important cause of death worldwide. The outcomes of children with all cancer types in South Africa are not well-documented.Aim: The aim of the article was to determine local childhood cancer survival rates and establish determinants of survival.Setting: The study was conducted at a state and a private hospital in South Africa.Methods: This retrospective cohort study consecutively included all children with a proven malignancy from 01 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to establish which factors significantly impacted overall survival (OS).Results: Of a total of 677 study participants, 71% were black South Africans. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 57% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53-61%) and significant determinants of OS on the multivariable analysis included: ethnicity, cancer-type and nutritional status. White and Indian patients had higher OS compared to black patients (hazard ration [HR] (95% CI) 0.46 (0.30-0.69) p = 0.0002 and HR (95%) 0.38 (0.19-0.78) p = 0.0087, respectively). Underweight patients had inferior survival (HR (95% CI) 1.78 (1.28-2.47)) p = 0.0006. Patients with neuroblastoma had an increased risk of dying compared to those with leukaemia (HR [95% CI] 1.78 [1.08-2.94]) p = 0.025. Progression of disease was the most common cause of death, followed by disease relapse.Conclusion: The childhood cancer survival rate obtained in this study can be used as a baseline to facilitate improvement. Non-modifiable prognostic factors included ethnicity and cancer-type whilst modifiable risk factors included undernutrition. Undernutrition should be addressed on a national and local level to improve survival.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2021-10-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajo.v5i0.189
 
Source South African Journal of Oncology; Vol 5 (2021); 9 pages 2523-0646 2518-8704
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/189/532 https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/189/533 https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/189/534 https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/189/535
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2021 Nadia Beringer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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