Time to loss to follow-up treatment among cervical cancer patients a case study at Jimma University Medical Center: Application of competing risk model

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern worldwide, with a considerable number of patients experiencing loss to follow-up during their treatment journey. This study aims to investigate the time it takes for cervical cancer patients to discontinue treatment and the factors contributing to this phenomenon at Jimma University Medical Center. The analysis considered death as a competing event. Method: Using a retrospective study design, data from medical records of cervical cancer patients who underwent treatment at Jimma University Medical Center over a three-year(between January 2020 and December 2022) period were analyzed. Results: Of 366 cervical cancer patients recorded, 42 (11.48%) were loss to followup and 42 (11.48%) were death during the follow-up period. The findings revealed that the minimum and maximum time to loss to follow-up among cervical cancer patients was 3and 6 months respectively. The cause-specifc hazard and sub-distribution haz ard models revealed that Age, Distance, Cancer stage, Performance ECOG(Eastern Cooperative Oncology group), has NCD(non communicable desease) commorbidi ties, Experienced Radiotherapy tocity, Experienced Advert Effect at follow up and treatment types of patients were signifcant risk factors associated with time to loss to follow-up treatment. The maximum relative difference observed for the covariate between the two hazard ratios was 82.14%. Conclussions: This study found that cervical cancer patients with non communicable desease, distantly patient, experienced adverse effects at follow-up and older patients had a higher risk of loss to follow-up. The findings revealed that the minimum and maximum time to loss to follow-up among cervical cancer patients was 3and 6 months respectively.