Importance of comorbidity in hypopharyngeal cancer.

Authors :: Homma A
Sakashita T
Oridate N
Suzuki F
Suzuki S
Hatakeyama H
Mizumachi T
Taki S
Fukuda S
Source :: Head & neck [Head Neck] 2010 Feb; Vol. 32 (2), pp. 148-53.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: Background: Comorbidity has an impact on survival in laryngeal cancer in several reports. However, the importance of comorbidity in hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) has not been reported.<br />Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 156 patients with HPC treated between 1995 and 2005 was performed. Comorbid illness was measured by the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the factors related to overall survival.<br />Results: Comorbidity was absent in 55 (35.2%) of the patients, mild in 39 (25%), moderate in 28 (17.9%), and severe in 34 (21.8%). There were statistically significant differences between the survival rates in accord with age, stage, subsite, and comorbidity (45.1% for none or mild vs 27.7% for moderate or severe; p = .0073). Age, stage, and comorbidity were identified as independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.<br />Conclusion: Comorbidity, along with the clinical stage, should be considered in treatment planning for patients with HPC.<br /> (Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)