Pattern and Outcome of Admission of Cancer Patients at Radiation Oncology Ward University College Hospital Ibadan Nigeria

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Approximately 70% of cancer mortalities occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria largely due to late presentation. Majority of cancer deaths are largely preventable, accessible to screening and early detection. The care of cancer patients on admission is generally known to be time consuming and challenging. Reports on pattern and outcome of admission in cancer patients are scarce in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to provide data on the pattern and outcome of admission on a ward that is solely for the care of cancer patients. Methodology: This is a one-year retrospective study of cancer patients admitted between June 1st 2018 to May 31st 2019. The patients’ information was extracted from the ward’s admission book and duplicate of the death certificate. Data collected were analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Results: A total of 318 admissions were recorded with female preponderance. More than half of the patients admitted were 40 to 59 years old. Majority of the patients 225 (70.8%) came from south western part of the country followed by the south south 55(17.3%). The commonest sites of primary disease were breast 81(25.5%), cervix 74 (23%), head and neck 43 (13.5%), gastrointestinal 49 (12.6%) and genitourinary cancers 23 (7.2%). Most of the patients admitted have stage 4 disease. 127 (39.9%) of the patients died on admission while 191 (60.1%) were discharged. There was statistically significant association between stage 4 disease and increased mortality (p=0.026). Breast cancers accounts for 40(31.5%) of mortality, cervix cancer 31(24.4%), head and neck cancer 16 (12.6%), genitourinary cancer 9 (7.1%), gastrointestinal cancer 6 (4.7%) and skin cancer 6(4.7%). Conclusion: Breast and cervical cancer were the commonest cases admitted. About 40% of the admitted died on the ward. The patients were mostly female in their productive ages.