Overall Observed Survival of Female Breast, Cervical, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancers in Antigua and Barbuda, 2017–2021: Retrospective Data from Four Study Sites

Andre A. N. Bovell (), Adrian Rhudd, Jabulani Ncayiyana and Themba G. Ginindza
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Andre A. N. Bovell: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
Adrian Rhudd: Urology Department, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, Saint John’s 268, Antigua and Barbuda
Jabulani Ncayiyana: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
Themba G. Ginindza: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: Understanding cancer survival is important for countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, where female breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers are burdensome to the healthcare system. This study therefore aimed to estimate the survival probabilities of patients diagnosed with these cancers between 2017 and 2021. A retrospective analytical study design was used to evaluate cancer cases abstracted from medical records at key study sites. Estimates of observed survival probabilities were determined using a Kaplan–Meier analysis. Significant differences between survival curves were assessed using the log-rank test. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression. A p -value < 0.05 indicated significance. A total of 391 diagnosed cases were included in this study (2017–2021): female breast cancer accounted for 42%, cervical cancer accounted for 10%, colorectal cancer accounted for 20%, and prostate cancer accounted for 28%. Overall, the mean age of the participants was 61.5 (±12.9) years; 62% were female, 73% were aged > 55 years, 56% were from St. John’s, and 82% were alive at the end of 2021. The median overall survival (years) was 4.8 for female breast cancer, 4.1 for cervical cancer, 4.5 for colorectal cancer, and not reached for prostate cancer. The cancer-specific overall observed 5-year survival probabilities were 44.9% for female breast cancer, 10.8% for cervical cancer, 19.6% for colorectal cancer, and 69.0% for prostate cancer. Significant associations between disease stage and overall survival were observed in female breast and colorectal cancers. This study provides important evidence for the 5-year observed survival probabilities of the studied cancers. Healthcare improvements that support cancer survival are required.

Keywords: Antigua and Barbuda; survival analysis; Kaplan–Meier analysis; breast cancer; cervical cancer; colorectal cancer; prostate cancer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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