Depression and hospital admission in older patients with head and neck cancer: analysis of a national healthcare database.

Objectives: The aim the study was to determine whether the presence of depression was associated with an increased likelihood of hospital admission among adult patients 50 years and over diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC) visiting emergency departments (EDs) in the United States.

Background: Head and neck cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In patients with cancer, depression is predictive of increased mortality and the effect remains after adjusting for comorbidities.