Outcomes of Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Related to Healthcare Coverage: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Brazil

Abstract

We investigated the differences in prognosis according to the type of healthcare coverage of patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC). This study included 875 medical records. Patients covered by the publicly funded Unified Health System (SUS) had a low educational level, with advanced T stage and delayed treatment initiation. Multivariate analyses revealed an association between T stage (p = .035) and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and age (p = .029) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical treatment (p = .036) and marital status (p = .015) were considered predictors of better prognosis in OOSCC. Exclusive SUS-dependency can be considered an indirect prognostic factor for OOSCC.

Keywords:

• Mouth neoplasms
• oropharyngeal neoplasms
• universal health insurance
• survival analysis

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.