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Published in:

01-04-2007

Comorbidity Is a Prognostic Factor in Elderly Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Authors: Alvaro Sanabria, MD, MSc, André Lopes Carvalho, MD, PhD, José Guilherme Vartanian, MD, José Magrin, MD, PhD, Mauro Kasuo Ikeda, MD, PhD, Luiz Paulo Kowalski, MD, PhD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 4/2007

Abstract

Background

The number of aged patients with head and neck cancer is increasing. Comorbidities are common in this population. It is necessary to evaluate the effect of comorbidities as measured with the ACE-27 index on recurrence and survival of elderly patients with head and neck cancer, adjusting by other prognostic factors as age, clinical stage and functional status index.

Patients

Three hundred and ten patients greater than 70 years of age with head and neck cancer in a referral cancer center were studied. Comorbidity measured with the ACE-27 index was the main independent variable. The outcomes were recurrence and survival.

Results

Comorbidities were present in 75% of patients. Five-year disease-free survival, overall survival and cancer-specific survival were 63.1, 42.8 and 55.8%, respectively. Advanced clinical stage and Karnofsky index ≤70 were associated with recurrence. Age >80 years, male gender, Karnofsky index ≤80, advanced clinical stage, and ACE value ≥2 were independently associated with overall survival. The ACE-27 value was not associated with cancer-specific survival. The Karnofsky performance index was associated with overall survival and mortality and acted as a confounding factor on multivariable analysis on overall and cancer-specific survival.

Conclusions

Comorbidity measured with ACE-27 was a prognostic factor for overall survival in patients older than 70 years with head and neck cancer. The Karnofsky performance index could be included in multivariable analysis of survival for older patients with head and neck cancer.

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Title: Comorbidity Is a Prognostic Factor in Elderly Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Alvaro Sanabria, MD, MSc
André Lopes Carvalho, MD, PhD
José Guilherme Vartanian, MD
José Magrin, MD, PhD
Mauro Kasuo Ikeda, MD, PhD
Luiz Paulo Kowalski, MD, PhD
Publication date: 01-04-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-006-9296-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Comorbidity Is a Prognostic Factor in Elderly Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Background

Patients

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Patients

Results

Conclusions

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