| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Scores (ASA-Score) may serve as a valuable indicator of comorbidity in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: In 135 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and/or oropharynx, the relation of disease free and overall survival and the ASA-score was evaluated in a univariate (logrank-test) and a Cox regression model. In the Cox model, age, tumor site and stage, and therapeutic modality served as covariates. RESULTS: In the univariate model, overall 5 year survival in ASA I and II patients was 44 %, and in ASA III and IV patients, it was 16 % (p < 0.005). The ASA-score also significantly influenced survival in the multivariate model. The hazard ratio (ASA I and II vs. ASA III and IV) was 2.1 (95 % confidence interval 1.3 to 3.4; p < 0,005). This corresponds to a 8 times higher risk to die, even when the effects of age, tumor site and stage, and therapeutic modalities are compensated for. CONCLUSION: The ASA-score is a valuable indicator of comorbidity in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors. An essential advantage is its easy availability in most clinical settings. |
