Predicting Mortality in Necrotising Otitis Externa: The Charlson Comorbidity Index

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE) is a severe infection impacting the ear canal and skull base, associated with high morbidity and mortality.
• Current prognostic indicators for NOE primarily focus on disease extent and damage, with limited evidence.
• The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is a widely used measure of patient comorbidity burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as an additional prognostic tool for patients diagnosed with Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 87 patients diagnosed with NOE over a six-year period at a tertiary care center.
• The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated for each patient.
• One-year mortality data was collected, and logistic regression analysis was performed.

Main Results:

• The average CCI score among the studied patients was 5.9.
• A higher CCI score was identified as a significant predictor of 1-year mortality in patients with NOE.
• The odds ratio for mortality associated with a higher CCI was 1.34 (p=0.028).

Conclusions:

• The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) demonstrates potential as an adjunctive tool for prognostication in Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE) patients.
• Incorporating the CCI can aid in clinical decision-making and patient counseling regarding outcomes.