[Epidemiology of primitive digestive cancers in adult in three specialized health centers in Cotonou (Benin Republic)].

Health research studies are increasingly focusing on digestive cancers because of their increasing frequency and severity. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiological aspects of primary digestive cancers in adults in three hospital centers in the commune of Cotonou. A total of 676 cases of digestive cancers were identified out of 25,093 patients received during the study period (2.7%). The mean age was 54 ± 14.1 years: [16-96] and the sex ratio was 2:1. The most frequent cancers were those of the liver (259; 38.3%) and colon-rectum (154; 22.8%). The next most common cancers in descending order were gastric cancer (12%), esophageal cancer (11.4%), pancreatic cancer (11.4%), anal cancer (1.9%), hail cancer (1.5%) and biliary cancer (0.7%). The average time to visit was 9 months. The main risk factors found were viral hepatitis B and C, alcoholism, diabetes, obesity, colonic polyps, smoking, excessive consumption of salt and dietary nitrates. Lethality was 58.4%, with cancers of the liver, colon-rectum, pancreas, and esophagus in descending order of mortality. The average overall survival was 10 months. Digestive cancers most often affect people in their fifties, who are usually men in Cotonou. They are dominated by liver cancer and colorectal cancer. Modifiable risk factors are often found. The control of these factors and early diagnosis could help improve the survival of patients affected.