Relationship between age, comorbidities and complications in head and neck cancer patients undergoing curative surgery

Background Both age and comorbidity are accepted as significant prognostic factors for adverse perioperative outcomes in major surgery. Elderly patients may be overlooked for radical treatment for fear of poor perioperative outcome. We aim to assess the relationship between age, comorbidities and post-operative outcomes in a tertiary head and neck unit. Methods A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 651 patients who underwent surgery for head and neck cancer at a tertiary hospital between 2007 and 2014. Results A total of 253 (38.9%) patients were aged >= 70 years and 398 (61.1%) patients were <= 69 years. Age alone did not predict prolonged post-operative stay, perioperative complications nor perioperative mortality. Congestive cardiac failure and/or complicated diabetes were significantly associated with poor outcomes, as was male sex. Conclusion Patients of any age with cardiac failure or complicated diabetes have a higher rate of post-operative complications in head and neck surgery.