Comparison of multi-space infections of the head and neck in the elderly and non-elderly people, part II: the influencing factors of the outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:This study aims to identify significant predictors of 3 outcomes in the aged patients and non-elderly with multi-space infections of the head and neck: the number of incisions, the length of hospital stay, and complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted on 242 patients receiving treatment for severe multi-space infections of the head and neck region. Study variables were categorized as demographics, clinical parameters, and laboratory values. The outcome variables were the number of incisions, length of hospital stay, and complications. Multivariate linear and logistic regression techniques were used to measure associations between study variables and the outcome variables. Statistical analyses of the results between groups were performed using the Student t test and χ. RESULTS:Multivariate analyses, controlling for confounding variables, indicated that the number of spaces affected was a predictor of the number of incisions and complications in the elderly group. In the non-elderly group, the number of spaces affected was a predictor of the number of incisions and length of hospital stay. Admission blood glucose level and admission white blood cell count were the predictors of complications in the non-elderly. CONCLUSION:This study identifies different study variables as predictors of outcomes in treating multi-space infections of the head and neck in the elderly and non-elderly group. The number of spaces affected is the most important predictor.