Assessment of the Elderly Adult Patients with Deep Neck Infection: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Deep neck infection (DNI) is a potentially lethal infectious disease affecting middle-aged adults and can compromise the airway. There are limited data on the prognosis and outcomes of elderly (aged > 65 years) DNI patients, who tend to be immunocompromised. This study analyzed the clinical characteristics of elderly and adult (aged 18-65 years) DNI patients. Methods: Between November 2016 and November 2022, 398 patients with DNIs, including 113 elderly patients, were admitted to our hospital and enrolled in this study. The relevant clinical variables were investigated and compared. Results: The elderly DNI patients had longer hospital stays (P