Hospital mortality for otolaryngologic disorders in New York State.

Hospital mortality in New York State during 1983, 1984, and 1985 for diagnosis related groups (DRGs) that addressed principal diagnoses of otolaryngologic disorders was evaluated. Inpatient data from 291 acute care hospitals in the state indicated that 66.6% of hospital mortality for these conditions was produced in a single category, DRG 64--Ear, Nose, and Throat Malignancy (treated medically). Other otolaryngologic DRGs that were sources of hospital mortality in New York State addressed otitis media and upper respiratory tract infections for elderly persons and patients with complications who were treated medically, a wide range of ear, nose, and throat diagnoses that were treated medically, major head and neck surgical procedures, and a wide range of other surgical procedures for malignant neoplasms. This information should contribute to the evaluation of disease trends that cause mortality in individual hospitals, statewide and nationwide, as well as to efforts at evaluation of quality of care in otolaryngology.