Frailty status but not age predicts complications in elderly cancer patients: a follow-up study.

Frailty status but not age predicts complications in elderly cancer patients: a follow-up study. Acta Oncol. 2018 Oct 03;:1-9 Authors: Ørum M, Gregersen M, Jensen K, Meldgaard P, Damsgaard EMS Abstract OBJECTIVES: The purposes were to investigate the health status of elderly cancer patients by comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and to compare the complications with respect to baseline CGA and to evaluate the need for geriatric interventions in an elderly cancer patients' population. MATERIAL: Patients aged ≥70 years with lung cancer (LC), cancer of the head and neck (HNC), colorectal cancer (CRC), or upper gastro-intestinal cancer (UGIC) are referred to the Department of Oncology for cancer treatment. METHODS: CGA was performed prior to cancer treatment and addressed the following domains: Activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), comorbidity, polypharmacy, nutrition, cognition, and depression. Complications, defined as dose reduction and discontinuation of treatment due to grade 3-4 toxicity, hospital admission, shift to palliative treatment, or death within 90 days, were identified from the medical files. Patients were classified as fit, vulnerable, or frail by CGA. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Patients (N = 217) with a median age of 75 years (range: 70-93 yeas) were included: 13% were fit, 35% vulnerable, and 52% frail. CGA significantly predicted admittance to hospital in frail and ...
Source: Acta Oncologica - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Acta Oncol Source Type: research