OBJECTIVES:

We reported the contemporary survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and analysed the factors affecting survival.

DESIGN:

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS:

We identified 13 407 patients with newly diagnosed NPC from 2002 to 2010.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was performed to measure the mortality-association risk factor in patients with NPC after adjusting for NPC treatment and socio-demographic characteristics.

RESULTS:

The 1-, 2-, 5- and 8-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89.6%, 80.4%, 65.2% and 56.5%, respectively. The factors associated with mortality risk were sex (men versus women, HR  =  1.45), age (>60 versus ≤ 40 years, HR  =  3.61), geographic region of residence (eastern Taiwan versus northern Taiwan HR   =   1.39), income (<15 840 versus >25  000, HR   =   1.87) and treatment modality (chemotherapy alone versus radiotherapy alone, HR   =   2.25).

CONCLUSION:

The contemporary 5-year OS rate was 65.2% in Taiwan. Male patients, old age, residing in eastern Taiwan, low income and receiving chemotherapy alone were independent predictors for poor OS.