Survival time and mortality risk among cholangiocarcinoma patients
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma is common cancer in northern and northeastern Thailand and is associated with poor survival outcome. Factors such as jaundice, tumor stage, treatment modality, and CA 19-9 may be related to survival outcome.
OBJECTIVE: To study the survival time of patients diagnosed cholangiocarcinoma and factors affecting their survival time.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using medical records coded ICD-10 C22.1 from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient baseline characteristics. Survival outcome was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and factors associated with survival were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS: A total of 105 patients with cholangiocarcinoma were included. Forty-six (43.8%) were diagnosed at early stage and 59 (56.2%) at advanced stage. The treatments received were supportive care in 54 (51.4%), chemotherapy in 33 (31.4%), and curative surgery in 18 (17.1%). The median survival time was 5.48 months (95% CI: 4.1–6.85). The median survival times for patients undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and supportive care was 20.56 months, 7.02 months, and 2.39 months, respectively. Factors associated with an increased risk of death included CA 19-9 ≥ 103 U/mL (adjusted HR 2.19; 95% CI: 1.27–3.79) and receiving supportive care compared with surgery (adjusted HR 9.21; 95% CI: 2.68–31.63).
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The median survival time of patients with cholangiocarcinoma was 5.48 months. CA 19-9 ≥ 103 U/mL and receiving supportive care compared with surgery were associated with an increased risk of death. Therefore, early screening should be promoted to detect patients at an earlier stage, increase the chance of surgical treatment, and reduce mortality from cholangiocarcinoma.
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