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Tobacco use and surgical outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Hatcher Jeanne L.,
Sterba Katherine R.,
Tooze Janet A.,
Day Terry A.,
Carpenter Matthew J.,
Alberg Anthony J.,
Sullivan Christopher A.,
Fitzgerald Nora C.,
Weaver Kathryn E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23944
Subject(s) - medicine , cotinine , tobacco use , head and neck cancer , surgery , head and neck , urinary system , cancer , nicotine , radiation therapy , environmental health , population
Background Tobacco use is a risk factor for head and neck cancer, but effects on postoperative outcomes are unclear. Methods Patients with head and neck cancer ( n = 89) were recruited before surgery. We assessed self‐reported tobacco use status (never, former, or current) at study entry and recent tobacco exposure via urinary cotinine on surgery day. Outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) and complications. Results Most participants reported current (32.6%) or former (52.8%) tobacco use; 43.2% were cotinine‐positive on surgery day. Complications occurred in 41.6% and mean LOS was 4.0 and 8.8 days in patients who received low and high acuity procedures, respectively. Current and former smokers were over 6 times more likely to have complications than never smokers ( p = .03). For high acuity procedures, LOS was increased in current (by 4.4 days) and former smokers (by 2.3 days; p = .02). Conclusion Tobacco use status is associated with postoperative complications and may distinguish at‐risk patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 700–706, 2016