Abstract
INTRODUCTION
As the population ages, the number of elderly cancer patients is increasing dramatically, and these patients are visiting emergency departments (ED) at an increasing rate. We aim to evaluate the demographic findings, clinical features, mortality, and factors affecting mortality in old age cancer patients who visit ED.
METHODS
The patients were divided into three groups according to age groups: 65-74 years old, 75-84 years old, and 85 years and older. A retrospective analysis and evaluation of demographic findings (age, gender), comorbidity, number of ED visits, chief complaints, tumor localization, stage of cancer, metastasis status, treatment status, hospitalization, morbidity, and factors affecting mortality were evaluated across the groups.
RESULTS
142 (52%) of 273 patients were in the 65-74 age group, 77 (28.2%) were in the 75-84 age group, and 54 (19.8%) were in the 85 and over age group. 60 (33%) patients died in the ED. Patients aged 85 and over had a higher mortality (p<0.001). The tumor location had no impact on mortality (p>0.05). Patients with neurologic and cardiovascular system problems as a chief complaint had a higher mortality (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Patients with metastatic disease had higher mortality than patients with early-stage and locoregional disease (p<0.01, p<0.001, respectively). Untreated patients had higher mortality (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Old age cancer patients who visited the ED had different characteristics in the age groups were observed. These patients had a high mortality and factors affecting mortality have been identified.