Geriatric assessment-identified deficits in older cancer patients with normal performance status.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We investigated whether a brief geriatric assessment (GA) would identify important patient deficits that could affect treatment tolerance and care outcomes within a sample of older cancer patients rated as functionally normal (80%-100%) on the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scale.

Methods

Cancer patients aged ≥65 years were assessed using a brief GA that included both professionally and patient-scored KPS and measures of comorbidity, polypharmacy, cognition, function, nutrition, and psychosocial status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The sample included 984 patients: mean age was 73 years (range: 65-99 years), 74% were female, and 89% were white. GA was conducted before (23%), during (41%),

SUBMITTER: Jolly TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4391761 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature