Analysis of the role of race/skin color in the prognosis of cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx

Abstract

Introduction: Oral cavity cancers are the most frequent tumors in head and neck, his favorable prognosis depends on early diagnosis and early treatment, however, most cases are detected at an advanced stage, in low-income and working-age individuals. Objective: Evaluate the association between race/skin color and state of cancer at the end of the first treatment in patients with oral cavity cancer and orofaringe cancer treated at hospitals in Bahia, between 2010-2012. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, analyzing information of the Computerization System Cancer Hospital Records in August 2014. The state of the disease at the end of the first treatment was defined as good or bad prognosis. The variable race / skin color was dichotomized as black or non-black. So we proceeded descriptive, bivariate and stratified analysis. Results: We found 943 cases of oral cavity cancer and orofaringe cancer, these 83.0% were in black individuals. Were obtained statistically significant results in relation to the prognosis poor, smoking (RR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.0), alcoholism (RR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.7) and tumor stage (RR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.8 to 3.7). The race / skin color does not show statistical association with prognosis of this cancer (RR: 1.1; 95% CI: 0.8 to 1.4). Conclusion:
In particular with cancer in the oral cavity and orofaringe cancer in the state of Bahia the race / color of the skin did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with the prognosis of oral cancer.