Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Honduras (2014–2023): Nationwide Trends in Hospital Discharges and Mortality

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a growing global health concern, yet data from Central America remain scarce. This study presents the first nationwide analysis of hospital discharges and mortality from HCC in Honduras from 2014 to 2023. We aimed to provide robust evidence for monitoring cancer trends and informing health policies. We analyzed hospital discharge and mortality records from the Ministry of Health, focusing on cases coded with HCC (ICD-10: C22.0) among the discharge diagnoses or as the underlying cause of death. Data were grouped by age, sex, year, and region. Crude incidence and mortality rates were calculated using national mid-year population estimates. From 2014 to 2023, there were 745 HCC-related hospital discharges and 205 deaths. The median age at discharge was 64 years (IQR: 52–73), with early-onset cases under age 30 recorded annually. Males predominated during the initial years (2014–2017), but female discharges rose steadily, nearing parity by 2023. Crude national incidence peaked at 1.089 per 100,000 in 2016 and declined to 0.698 per 100,000 by 2023 (−29.1%); mortality rose from 0.154 to 0.267 per 100,000 (+73.1%), revealing a divergence between hospitalization and death trends. Francisco Morazán and Cortés concentrated the highest number of discharges. In Honduras, HCC predominantly affects older adults, with near-equal sex distribution and hospital care concentrated in two departments. The divergence between declining discharge rates and rising mortality suggests persistent underdiagnosis. These findings underscore the need for national surveillance programs and equitable access to early detection.