Parathyroidectomy is Safe in Elderly Patients: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study

With increasing age, the incidence of hyperparathyroidism is increased. This study evaluates parathyroidectomy outcomes in elderly patients.

Primary hyperparathyroidism patients having parathyroidectomy as listed in the 2005–2017 ACS-NSQIP database were separated by age: ≤60, 61–79 and ≥80. Outcomes included complications, 30-day mortality, return to the OR, operating times, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare patients 61–79 and ≥80 to those ≤60. Patients ≤60 and ≥80 were propensity score matched using gender, race, BMI, smoking status, steroid use, modified frailty index (mFI), ASA class, procedure, setting, anesthesia, and wound class. Morbidity and mortality were compared to ACS-NSQIP database patients having elective inguinal hernia repair.

Of 47,701 patients: 22,220 were ≤60, 22,683 were 61–79, and 2798 were ≥80. Patients ≥80 had more complications (2.3% vs. 1.5% for 61–79 and 1.0% for ≤60, p < 0.01), LOS > 1 day (10.3% vs. 5.8% and 6.7%, p < 0.01), and mortality (0.21% vs. 0.11% and 0.03%, p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis of the overall population, older age, male gender, steroid use, high mFI, outpatient procedure, and general anesthesia increased the risk of complications. On propensity score matched analysis, there was no difference in complications (1.5% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.06) or mortality (0.04% vs. 0.23%, p = 0.12) between patients ≤60 and ≥80. Parathyroidectomy morbidity and mortality was lower than that for elective inguinal hernia repair in patients ≥80 (2.3% vs. 10% and 0.21% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.01).

Parathyroidectomy is a safe operation, offering lower morbidity and mortality than elective hernia repair in all age groups including octogenarians.