Prevalence and survival in patients with bladder cancer: a study in high cancer incidence zone

Abstract

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract caused by the uncontrollable division of cells lining the bladder. The clinicopathological characteristics of BC determine largely the prognosis and aid in the treatment and management of disease. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of BC in our region. Materials and methods: The study prospectively screened all the patients who were diagnosed with BC between 2018 and 2020. Detailed history of 235 patients was taken and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of 137 BC patients was also performed to evaluate any possible association between various clinico-pathological characteristics, with respect to overall survival (OS) and recurrence in terms of disease free survival (DFS). Results: Among BC cases, 78.72% (185) patients were males and 21.27% (50) were females with a male: female ratio of 3.7:1. The frequency of BC was observed to be 36.17% (85) in cases that belonged to the age group of <50 years whereas 63.82% (150) cases belonged to ≥50 years. Of all cases 67.65% (159) patients were active smokers. The pathological characteristics of BC cases included 59.14% (139) cases of low stage (pTa/pT1) versus 40.86% (96) of the high stage (pT2/higher). Moreover, non-smokers, females and patients exhibiting low grade and stage had significant and better OS and DFS than the rest (Log rank P < 0.05). Conclusion: BC remains one of the leading cancers in our region despite absence of many occupational exposures except smoking.