Short-term, postoperative breast cancer outcomes in patients with advanced age

Background This study compares early postoperative breast cancer outcomes between patients 80 years and older (older patients) and those younger than 80 years (<80 years). Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients who had breast surgery between 2005 and 2013 for malignancy. Results Older patients had a significantly higher percentage of comorbidities and partial mastectomies. Postoperatively, they had higher rates of pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cardiac arrest, and mortality but had lower rates of wound dehiscence, deep wound, and organ space infections. Thirty-day mortality is independently associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, American Society of Anesthesiology class IV, and older age. Conclusions The overall perioperative morbidity and mortality after breast surgery, regardless of age, is low. Older patients had a significantly higher rate of mortality and systemic complications but a lower rate of wound complications, likely because of less invasive surgical procedures.