title: Predictive factors for complications in elderly patients who underwent head and neck oncologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative complications are relevant outcomes in patients with head and neck tumor who have undergone surgery. Few trials have assessed predictive factors in older patients. We assessed the predictive effect of preoperative clinical factors on postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cohort study with 242 patients older than 70 years with head and neck cancer who underwent surgery. Logistic regression identified predictive factors for postoperative complications. Significant variables were used to build a predictive index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comorbidities were present in 87.6% of patients, and 56.6% had some type of complication (44.6% local and 28.5% systemic). Male sex, bilateral neck dissection, presence of 2 or more comorbidities, reconstruction, and clinical stage IV were associated with postoperative complications. The predictive index showed a receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) area of 0.69.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to predict postoperative complications in older patients with head and neck tumors who underwent oncologic surgery using clinical preoperative variables.
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaringology, Hospital do Câncer AC Camargo, Fundação Antonio Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil. alvarosanabria@gmail.com
authors: Alvaro
authors: A
authors: Sanabria
authors: André L
authors: AL
authors: Carvalho
authors: Rosana L
authors: RL
authors: Melo
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Magrin
authors: Mauro K
authors: MK
authors: Ikeda
authors: José G
authors: JG
authors: Vartanian
authors: Luiz P
authors: LP
authors: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology