Clinical prognostic factors in adults with astrocytoma: Historic cohort

• The mean age at diagnosis was 45.7, that represent 20 years younger than in other populations.
• Only 9% of patients presented a survival of 2 years, and 3% of patients survived 3 years.
• Alcohol consumption and familial history of cancer were associated with survival time.
• Life lost by premature death in this population was 28 years.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical prognostic factors for adults affected with astrocytoma.Patients and methodsUsing a historic cohort, we selected 155 clinical files from patients with astrocytoma using simple randomization. The main outcome variable was overall survival time. To identify clinical prognostic factors, we used bivariate analysis, Kaplan Meier, the log rank test and the Cox regression models. The number of lost years lived with disability (DALY) based on prevalence, was calculated.ResultsThe mean age at diagnosis was 45.7 years. Analysis according to tumour stage, including grades II, III and IV, also showed a younger age of presentation. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates showed that tumour grade, Karnofsky status (KPS) ≥70, resection type, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, alcohol consumption, familial history of cancer and clinical presentation were significantly associated with survival time. Using a proportional hazard model, age, grade IV, resection, chemotherapy + radiotherapy and KPS were identified as prognostic factors.The amount of life lost due to premature death in this population was 28 years.ConclusionIn our study, astrocytoma was diagnosed in young adults. The overall survival was 15 months, 9% (n = 14) of patients presented a survival of 2 years, and 3% of patients survived 3 years. On average the number of years lost due to premature death and disability was 28.53 years.