One-year mortality and morbidity in ENT emergencies

Introduction and Aim:
Emergency presentations in otolaryngology are common, with various conditions leading to hospital
admissions and healthcare consumption. While some reports suggest that epistaxis among other ENT
emergencies may be linked with increased mortality, the role of underlying frailty or healthcare utilization
remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the one-year mortality rate of patients admitted with different
ENT-related emergencies, excluding those with a history of cancer.
Materials and Methods:
This cohort study included all patients admitted with ENT emergencies between January 1, 2023, and
December 31, 2023. Patients with a history of cancer were excluded. Demographic information and frailty
indicators were gathered retrospectively, while morbidity and mortality outcomes were monitored prospectively at 30 days and one year following admission. Secondary analyses explored factors contributing
to reduced survival.
Results:
A total of 1,789 patients were included in the analysis. The overall one-year mortality rate was 2.7%, with no
significant difference observed between subjects with epistaxis (3.2%) compared to others (2.0%, p=0.1245). Mortality was strongly associated with general frailty, particularly older age (p<0.0001) and a history of frequent hospitalizations (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
Among patients admitted for ENT-related emergencies (excluding cancer), the one-year mortality rate was 2.7%. Although epistaxis was the most common cause of ENT emergencies, it did not correlate with a higher
mortality risk compared to other conditions. Advanced age and a history of frequent hospitalizations were the
strongest predictors of mortality. These findings could aid in risk stratification at the time of admission, allowing for more tailored patient management and support.