Determinants of Mortality among Cervical Cancer Patients Attending in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: Institutional-Based Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Globally, about 570,000 cases and 311,000 deaths of cervical cancer occurred in 2018. It was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Africa. The global mean age at death of cervical cancer was about 59 years. This study aimed to assess the determinants of cervical cancer mortality among cervical cancer patients attending in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). METHODS: Institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted in the oncology center of TASH, Ethiopia, from March to April 2019. Data were extracted from patients' chart using structured checklist and analyzed using Stata 14.2. Cox regression was used to identify variables that affect the outcome variable. RESULT: From the total of 2045 reviewed medical records of cervical cancer patients, 1057 medical records were found to be complete and included in this study. The incidence of mortality among cervical cancer patients was 15.6/100/years. Mortality was significantly increased with advanced age (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.02, 95% CI (1.01–1.03)), comorbidity (AHR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.39–1.89)), being anemic (AHR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.07–1.89)), advanced stage (AHR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.24–2.13)), and being substance user (AHR = 2.71, 95% CI (2.08–3.53)). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the incidence of mortality within the cohort was 15.6/100/years. Mortality was significantly increased with advanced age, anemia, advanced stage, comorbidity, and using substances. It is better to give special attention to patients with anemia, advanced age, advanced stage, comorbidity, and substance usage. In addition, expanding cervical cancer early screening will decrease the mortality of patients.