title: Comparison of old (75-79 years) to very old (80+ years) hospitalized otorhinolaryngology patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to determine the patients' characteristics, comorbidity, and inpatient treatment features of very old otorhinolaryngology patients (80+ years) compared to old patients (75-79 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center cohort study in a tertiary and university care center was performed with 144 old and 143 very old patients who were hospitalized in 2012. Predictors for differences between old and very old patients were analyzed univariately and multivariately using regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ear (30 %) and nose/paranasal sinus (23 %) diseases were the most frequent reasons for hospitalization. Baseline and disease characteristics were not different between the two groups of elderly patients. Duration of hospitalization was no longer in very old patients (p = 0.827). Mobility (p = 0.017), dietary intake (p = 0.017), and having hearing aid (p < 0.0001) were independent comorbidity predictors in very old patients compared to old patients. Polymedication was found less frequently in very old patients (p = 0.017). To take cardiovascular drugs (p = 0.009) or psychotherapeutic drugs (p = 0.045) were independent permanent medication predictors in very old patients compared to old patients. About half of the patients received a surgical treatment (52 %) and the other half a conservative treatment (48 %). The very old patients received significantly more often an antibiotic treatment (p < 0.0001). Complication rates for surgical cases and non-surgical cases were not different (p = 0.686 and p = 0.524, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although comorbidity continues to increase in hospitalized very old compared to old otorhinolaryngology patients, most of the disease, treatment and treatment related complication characteristics seem not to change significantly from old to very old patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, 07740, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Weißenborn
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, 07740, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, 07740, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geißler
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, 07740, Jena, Germany. orlando.guntinas@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guntinas-Lichius
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Elderly; Geriatric otorhinolaryngology; Hospitalization; Inpatient treatment; Older adults