Quality of life in patients older than 75 years following major head and neck surgery.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients older than 75 years undergoing major head and neck surgery.


METHODS
Three groups of patients were included: elderly patients (>75, n = 35) and younger patients (65 to 75 years, n = 30) undergoing major head and neck surgery and healthy controls (>75, n = 40). Measurements were made using the SF-12 health survey, the University of Washington QOL questionnaire, and measurements of the "sense of burden" on the caregiver.


RESULTS
With the SF-12, the role physical, role emotional, and bodily pain were decreased by the surgical intervention, while physical function was affected by age alone. With the UW-QOL Questionnaire, overall QOL was preserved. "Appearance" and "Leisure" subscales were affected by the surgical intervention and old age. "Chewing" and "Activity" were decreased by the surgical intervention in the older patients, and "Speech" was affected by the surgical intervention alone. The "sense of burden" was alleviated by surgery in the elderly patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Several QOL domains are decreased in elderly patients undergoing major head and neck surgery.
Khafif
Avi
A
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. avironit@bezeqint.net
Posen
Jennie
J
Yagil
Yaron
Y
Beiser
Michael
M
Gil
Ziv
Z
Ben-Yosef
Rami
R
Landsberg
Roee
R
Fliss
Dan M
DM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires