Survival and Prognostic Factors of Laryngeal Cancer Patients in Colombia: A retrospective cohort study

Background Laryngeal cancer is the second most common head and neck cancer worldwide, primarily affecting males with an average age of diagnosis at 65. Although international statistics on this cancer are well-documented, Colombia's national data is limited, hindering public health policy development. Were explored key clinical and sociodemographic findings of Colombian patients with laryngeal cancer undergoing surgical treatment from 2012 to 2017. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study using population records from a health administrative database was conducted. The cohort consists of all patients aged ≥ 18 with a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer who underwent surgical treatment from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2017. Results Of the 1,546 patients analyzed, 74.3% were male, and 6.7% underwent major laryngeal surgery. Three-year overall survival was 78.5%, and differences in survival were noted based on age, gender, comorbidities, surgical procedure, and adjuvant therapy. The data revealed that survival significantly decreased with increasing age and was lower among male patients. Advanced surgical procedures were associated with reduced survival, suggesting that early diagnosis and intervention are crucial. Higher comorbidity scores were linked to poorer outcomes, highlighting the importance of holistic patient management. Adjuvant chemotherapy was also linked to lower survival rates. Conclusions The study's findings underscore the need for comprehensive cancer registries and support efforts to understand the disease's burden and plan targeted interventions. This work provides the first national insight into the prognosis of surgically managed laryngeal cancer patients in Latin America, aiding healthcare strategies and decision-making for this condition.