Abstract

Objective : To study otolaryngological pathology in elderly patients in the otolaryngology (ENT) and head and neck surgery (HNS) department of the University Hospital of Toulouse (CHUT).
Patients and methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the ENT/HNS department of the CHU-T from January 19, 2016, to November 24, 2021. It included all patients aged 65 and over.
Results: A total of 362 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 73.34 years, with a range of 65 to 100 years. The male-to-female ratio was 0.84. Otological conditions, representing 62.15% of cases, were dominated by acute otitis media (13.81%), chronic otitis media (8.29%), vertigo (4.97%), and earwax buildup (4.42%). Rhinosinusitis, representing 30.38% of cases, was dominated by chronic rhinitis (8.29%), acute rhinitis (6.91%), and allergic rhinitis (4.14%). Pharyngolaryngeal conditions, representing 19.61% of cases, were dominated by acute laryngitis (5.52%), chronic laryngitis (5.25%), and acute pharyngolaryngitis (2.76%).
Conclusion: ENT pathologies are common in the elderly. Otological pathologies were predominant among all ENT pathologies.