The impact of medical comorbidities on the quality of care for patients with head and neck cancer.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16030-e16030
Author(s):  
Brenda Ernst ◽  
Mary T Busowski ◽  
Randal S. Weber ◽  
Thomas D. Shellenberger

e16030 Background: Objectively assessing the treatment of patients with cancer offers a basis for raising the standard of care. Quality indicators provide criteria by which the safety of care can be measured and compared to defined benchmarks. However, variables influencing the metrics in quality can limit generalizability and applicability. Medical comorbidities pose significant threats to the care of patients with head and neck cancer. We sought to investigate the impact of medical comorbidities on quality indicators for patients undergoing management by the multidisciplinary team. Methods: Comorbidities were assessed in relation to quality indicators in 49 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck over a 16-month period. Treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy was classified by the number and type of modalities delivered. Surgical procedures were stratified by high and low acuity as defined by extent. By univariate and multivariate analysis, medical comorbidities were correlated with length of hospital stay, readmission within 30 days, return to the operating room within 7 days, 30-day mortality, use of blood products, and surgical site infection. Results: Cardiovascular disease was present in 49% of patients, diabetes mellitus in 12%, liver disease in 8%, previous congestive heart failure in 4%, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 17%. The presence of any single comorbidity was correlated with each of the negative indicators (p<0.05), and with multiple negative indicators (p<0.05). Comorbidities occurred more frequently in patients undergoing high acuity surgery (p<0.05) and combined modality therapy (p<0.05). Decreasing performance status and major clinical predictors were the factors most strongly associated with negative quality indicators. Conclusions: Approaches to adjust for comorbid status are critical to accurate assessment of quality indicators. Risk stratification of patients at initial evaluation can offer valuable criteria for selecting treatment. Evaluation and management of comorbidities by evidence-based guidelines may improve care.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Weissmann ◽  
Daniel Höfler ◽  
Markus Hecht ◽  
Sabine Semrau ◽  
Marlen Haderlein ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is a large lack of evidence for optimal treatment in oligometastatic head and neck cancer and it is especially unclear which patients benefit from radical local treatment of all tumour sites. Methods 40 patients with newly diagnosed oligometastatic head and neck cancer received radical local treatment of all tumour sites from 14.02.2008 to 24.08.2018. Primary endpoint was overall survival. Time to occurrence of new distant metastases and local control were evaluated as secondary endpoints as well as prognostic factors in univariate und multivariate Cox’s regression analysis. To investigate the impact of total tumour volume on survival, all tumour sites were segmented on baseline imaging. Results Radical local treatment included radiotherapy in 90% of patients, surgery in 25% and radiofrequency ablation in 3%. Median overall survival from first diagnosis of oligometastatic disease was 23.0 months, 2-year survival was 48%, 3-year survival was 37%, 4-year survival was 24% and 5-year survival was 16%. Median time to occurrence of new distant metastases was 11.6 months with freedom from new metastases showing a tail pattern after 3 years of follow-up (22% at 3, 4- and 5-years post-treatment). In multivariate analysis, better ECOG status, absence of bone and brain metastases and lower total tumour volume were significantly associated with improved survival, whereas the number of metastases and involved organ sites was not. Conclusions Radical local treatment in oligometastatic head and neck cancer shows promising outcomes and needs to be further pursued. Patients with good performance status, absence of brain and bone metastases and low total tumour volume were identified as optimal candidates for radical local treatment in oligometastatic head and neck cancer and should be considered for selection in future prospective trials.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Minohara ◽  
Takuma Matoba ◽  
Daisuke Kawakita ◽  
Gaku Takano ◽  
Keisuke Oguri ◽  
...  

Abstract Although several prognostic factors in nivolumab therapy have been reported in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (RM-HNC), these factors remain controversial. Here, we conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to investigate the impact of clinico-hematological factors on survival in RM-HNC patients treated with nivolumab. We retrospectively reviewed 126 RM-HNC patients from seven institutes. We evaluated the prognostic effects of clinico-hematological factors on survival using Cox proportional hazard models. The median overall survival (OS) was 12.3 months, and the 1 year-OS rate was 51.2 %. Patients without immune-related adverse events, lower relative eosinophil count, worse best overall response, higher performance status, and higher modified Glasgow Prognostic Score had significantly worse survival rates. The prognostic score, generated by combining these significantly worse prognostic factors, was more closely associated with prognosis than each factor (p for trend<0.001). Our novel prognostic score utilizing clinico-hematological factors might be useful to establish an individual treatment strategy in patients with RM-HNC treated with nivolumab therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Minohara ◽  
Takuma Matoba ◽  
Daisuke Kawakita ◽  
Gaku Takano ◽  
Keisuke Oguri ◽  
...  

AbstractAlthough several prognostic factors in nivolumab therapy have been reported in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (RM-HNC) patients, these factors remain controversial. Here, we conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to investigate the impact of clinico-hematological factors on survival in RM-HNC patients treated with nivolumab. We reviewed 126 RM-HNC patients from seven institutes. We evaluated the prognostic effects of clinico-hematological factors on survival. The median overall survival (OS) was 12.3 months, and the 1 year-OS rate was 51.2%. Patients without immune-related adverse events, lower relative eosinophil count, worse best overall response, higher performance status, and higher modified Glasgow Prognostic Score had worse survival. The score, generated by combining these factors, was associated with survival. Patients with score of 4–5 had worse survival than those with score of 2–3 and 0–1 [adjusted HR for PFS: score of 4–5, 7.77 (3.98–15.15); score of 2–3, 3.44 (1.95–6.06), compared to score of 0–1], [adjusted HR for OS: score of 4–5, 14.66 (4.28–50.22); score of 2–3, 7.63 (2.29–25.37), compared to score of 0–1]. Our novel prognostic score utilizing clinico-hematological factors might be useful to establish an individual treatment strategy in RM-HNC patients treated with nivolumab therapy.


Author(s):  
Lars Axelsson ◽  
Erik Holmberg ◽  
Jan Nyman ◽  
Anders Högmo ◽  
Helena Sjödin ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is a rare condition whose prognostic factors that are significant for survival vary between studies. No randomized treatment study has been performed thus far, and the optimal treatment is not established. Objective The present study aimed to explore various prognostic factors and compare the two main treatments for HNCUP: neck dissection and (chemo) radiation vs primary (chemo) radiation. Methods A national multicenter study was performed with data from the Swedish Head and Neck Cancer Register (SweHNCR) and from the patients' medical records from 2008 to 2012. Results Two-hundred and sixty HNCUP patients were included. The tumors were HPV-positive in 80%. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients treated with curative intent was 71%. Age (p < 0.001), performance status (p= 0.036), and N stage (p= 0.046) were significant factors for overall survival according to the multivariable analysis. Treatment with neck dissection and (chemo) radiation (122 patients) gave an overall 5-year survival of 73%, and treatment with primary (chemo) radiation (87 patients) gave an overall 5-year survival of 71%, with no significant difference in overall or disease-free survival between the 2 groups. Conclusions Age, performance status, and N stage were significant prognostic factors. Treatment with neck dissection and (chemo) radiation and primary (chemo) radiation gave similar survival outcomes. A randomized treatment study that includes quality of life is needed to establish the optimal treatment.


Author(s):  
N Bhamra ◽  
B Gorman ◽  
W Arnold ◽  
A Rajah ◽  
K Jolly ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 832
Author(s):  
Julius M. Vahl ◽  
Marlene C. Wigand ◽  
Michael Denkinger ◽  
Dhayana Dallmeier ◽  
Chiara Steiger ◽  
...  

Background: The impact of demographic change on the age at diagnosis in German head and neck cancer (HNC) patients is unclear. Here we present an evaluation of aging trends in HNC at a tertiary referral center. Methods: Retrospective cohort study on aging trends at the initial diagnosis of newly diagnosed patients with HNC between 2004 and 2018 at the head and neck cancer center Ulm in relation to demographic data of the catchment area. Results: The study population consisted of 2450 individuals diagnosed with HNC with a mean age of 62.84 (±11.67) years. We observed a significant increase in annual incidence rates and mean age over time. Mean age among HNC patients increased significantly more than among the population in the catchment area. Whereas the incidence rate of patients <50 years did not change, the incidence of HNC patients aged ≥70 years increased the most. The mean patient age in the main tumor sites increased significantly. Surprisingly, HPV-positive patients were not younger than HPV-negative patients, but showed a non-significant trend towards a higher mean age (63.0 vs. 60.7 years). Conclusions: Increasing incidence rates in older patients pose a challenge for health care systems. A nationwide study is needed to assess the dynamics and impact of aging on the incidence of HNC.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Marisol Miranda-Galvis ◽  
Reid Loveless ◽  
Luiz Paulo Kowalski ◽  
Yong Teng

Epidemiological and clinical studies over the past two decades have provided strong evidence that genetic elements interacting with environmental components can individually and collectively influence one’s susceptibility to cancer. In addition to tumorigenic properties, numerous environmental factors, such as nutrition, chemical carcinogens, and tobacco/alcohol consumption, possess pro-invasive and pro-metastatic cancer features. In contrast to traditional cancer treatment, modern therapeutics not only take into account an individual’s genetic makeup but also consider gene–environment interactions. The current review sharpens the focus by elaborating on the impact that environmental factors have on the pathogenesis and progression of head and neck cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives in this area of research are also discussed. Inhibiting key environmental drivers of tumor progression should yield survival benefits for patients at any stage of head and neck cancer.


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