Mortality and associated influencing factors among oral cancer patients in western China: A retrospective cohort study from 2016 to 2021

Few studies have examined oral cancer-related mortality in Guangxi. This study aimed to explore the incidence and characteristics of oral cancer and to identify the risk factors for oral cancer-related mortality. The study was conducted to provide a reference for clinical treatment and to improve the survival rate of patients with oral cancer. A total of 271 patients with oral cancer who were treated in the Stomatology Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from 2016 to 2017 were selected as the research subjects. The follow-up lasted until the middle of 2021. The survival rate and mean survival time of 271 patients were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models and stratified analysis were used to explore the related factors that affect the mortality of patients. Nomogram plots were used to visualize the relationships among multiple variables. Among 271 patients with oral cancer, the 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 83.8% and 68.5% respectively. The results of multivariate analysis showed that, age, pathological type, surgery and readmission were significant factors affecting survival. When the above factors were incorporated into nomogram plots and stratified analysis, the results showed that the risk of death after treatment in patients with oral cancer aged > 55 years was 1.693 times higher than that in patients aged <= 55 years (HR, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.795, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.073, 3.004). The risk of death after surgical treatment was 0.606 times higher than that without surgical treatment (HR = 0.590, 95% CI = 0.367, 0.948). Patients who were readmitted had a 2.340-fold increased risk of death compared with patients who were not readmitted (HR = 2.340, 95% CI = 1.267,4.321). Older age, surgery, and readmission were risk factors for mortality among patients with oral cancer. The median survival time of 271 patients with oral cancer was 52.0 months. Patients under the age of 55 years old and those who choose surgical treatment tend to have a better prognosis and a longer survival. Oral cancer-related mortality is affected by age, treatment mode, readmission, and other factors. All of these factors are worthy of clinical attention for their prevention and control.