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Head and neck cancer: poorer patients have poorer surgical outcomes

Increasing socioeconomic deprivation is associated with poorer health outcomes in English patients with head and neck cancer, according to a study published in the journal Head & Neck.

The retrospective population-based observational study of patients undergoing head and neck surgical procedures in England between 2002 and 2012 included 5051 patients in the less socially deprived (LSD) group and 7282 in the more socially deprived (MSD) group.

The data showed that MSD patients were younger at the time of surgery (61 vs 63 years; P<.000001) and were more likely to present with hypopharyngeal-laryngeal cancers (41% vs 30%; P<.000001). They had higher burdens of morbidity and more frequently required emergency surgery (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.52-1.99).

Following surgery, MSD patients had higher lengths of inpatient stay (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.57-1.88; P<.000001). These patients also had higher odds of both inpatient (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.19-1.82) and overall mortality (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.45).

However, it should be noted that the results were not adjusted for Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage.

The study was carried out by researchers at University Hospital Southampton, Imperial College London, Poole Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth and Dr Foster Ltd.


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