Hospital mortality and associated factors in the oncology unit of Treichville University Hospital (Côte d'Ivoire): A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Cancer represents a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In Côte d'Ivoire, more than 70 % of cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often requiring hospitalization, especially for palliative care. However, data on hospital mortality and its determinants in oncology services remain scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality among cancer patients admitted to the long-term hospitalization unit (HLD) of the oncology department at Treichville University Hospital.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study over 12 months (November 2022 to October 2023), including all patients aged ≥ 16 years, with a confirmed cancer diagnosis, admitted to the HLD unit. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using STATA. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with hospital mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 318 hospitalizations were recorded for 239 patients. The mean age was 53.0 ± 14.3 years, with a female predominance (58 %). The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (20.4 %) and diabetes (9.7 %). Advanced-stage cancers were observed in over 90 % of cases. The most common tumor sites were colorectal (26.7 %), breast (17.3 %), and liver (7.3 %). In-hospital mortality was 30.5 %. Multivariate analysis identified the following factors as significantly associated with mortality: prostate cancer (p < 0.05), emergency admission (p < 0.01), poor performance status (WHO score ≥3) (p < 0.01), in-hospital fever (p < 0.05), delayed transfusion (p < 0.05), and occurrence of complications during hospitalization (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Hospital mortality among cancer patients in Côte d'Ivoire remains high and is not always directly attributable to cancer progression. Early identification and management of modifiable factors such as emergency admissions, transfusion delays, and hospital-acquired complications could improve patient outcomes. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to support evidence-based oncology care in sub-Saharan Africa.