The significance of comorbidity in advanced laryngeal cancer

Introduction. Cancer patients often have concurrent diseases and conditions known as comorbidities. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the sign ificance of comorbidity in the treatment and outcomes of advanced laryngeal carcinoma. Methods. A retrospective medical record review of 182 patients with previou sly untreated T3 or T4 squamous carcinomas of the larynx treated at M. D. A nderson between 1990 and 1995 was performed. Demographic, patient-specific, tumor-specific, and outcome measures information were collected. Comorbidi ty was coded using the Modified Medical Comorbidity Index. Univariate and m ultivariate analysis with the use of life survival analysis techniques and logistic regression were performed. Results. The median age at diagnosis was 59.5 years. Most patients were men (69.2%) and Caucasian (73.1%). Laryngeal preservation was performed in 90 patients, and surgical resection was performed in 92 patients. Patients in the two treatment groups had similar comorbidity, locoregional control (65% ), and 5-year survival (37.3%). Patients with either moderate or severe com orbidity had significantly worse overall survival (p = .00014) and worse 5- year survival than those with no or mild comorbidity (21.8% vs 46.3%, p = . 003). Conclusions. This study demonstrates that comorbidity is significantly asso ciated with survival in a group of patients with identical histology, site, and stage. Comorbid status should be incorporated into the assessment of p rognosis and outcome to improve and optimize the management of head and nec k cancer patients. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 566-572, 2001.