Impact of Age on 30-Day Mortality and Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Ovarian Cancer

abstract
 

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effect of age on postoperative 30-day morbidity and
mortality after surgery for ovarian cancer.

METHODS:

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality
 Improvement Program files were used to identify patients with ovarian
 cancer who underwent surgery in 2005 to 2011. Women were divided
 into 4 age groups: <60, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and ≥80 years. Multivariable
 logistic regression models were performed.

RESULTS:

Of 2087 patients included, 47% were younger than 60 years, 28% were
 60 to 69 years old, 18% were 70 to 79 years old, and 7% were 80 years
 or older. Overall 30-day mortality and morbidity rates were 2% and 30%.
Elderly patients 80 years or older were more likely to die within 30 days
  compared with patients younger than 60 years, 60 to 69 years old, and
 70 to 79 years old (9.2% vs. 0.6% vs .2.8% vs 2.5%, P < 0.001). Elderly
 patient aged 80 years or older were more likely to develop pulmonary
  (9% vs 2% vs 5% vs 3%, P < 0.001) and septic (9% vs 3% vs 5% vs
 4%, P = 0.01) complications compared with patients younger than
 60 years, 60 to 69 years old, and 70 to 79 years old, respectively.
No difference in the risk of renal (0.2% vs 1% vs 1% vs 1%, P = 0.20)
 complications and surgical reexploration (4% vs 4% vs 3% vs 5%,
P = 0.80) between the 4 age groups. In multivariable analyses after
adjusting for other confounders, age was a significant predictor of 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity. Compared with younger patients, octogenarians were 9-times more likely to die and 70% more likely to develop complications within 30 days after surgery. Other significant predictors
 of 30-day mortality were higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class
and hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin ≤ 3 g/dL), whereas, surgical complexity,
 higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class, longer operative time,
 and hypoalbuminemia were other significant predictors of 30-day morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Elderly patients have a higher risk of perioperative mortality and morbidity
within 30 days. Therefore, those patients should be counseled thoroughly
about the risk of primary debulking surgery vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy.