title: Gynecologic surgery in the elderly population: an increasing trend over two decades.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Office for Budget Responsibility in the UK has indicated that the ageing population and its increasing demand for health expenditure are likely to place added pressure on the national budget. In this study, we aimed to document the trend for surgery in patients aged ≥70 years over a two-decade period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included female patients aged ≥70 years who underwent elective gynecologic surgery in Wexham Park and Heatherwood Hospitals over the period 2010-2012 (n = 565). Data were compared with those at two previous time points over the previous two decades (1991-1993 and 2001-2003). Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients aged ≥70 years who had elective gynecologic surgery during the two-decade period steadily increased (p < 0.001). Although the proportions of minor and major procedures were similar, minor procedures were slightly more common than major procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing proportion of elderly surgical patients reflects the aging community. This should increase awareness of the mounting clinical and financial demands to provide optimal care for this age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, SL2 4HL, UK, dr.msmahmoud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdullah Agha
authors.forename: Vikki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Argent
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reginald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies