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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%), or after (36%) treatment. Overall, 54% had a breast cancer diagnosis (n = 528), and 46% (n = 456) had cancers at other sites. Moreover, 81% of participants (n = 796) had both professionally and self-rated KPS ≥80, defined as functionally normal, and those patients are the focus of analysis. In this subsample, 550 (69%) had at least 1 GA-identified deficit, 222 (28%) had 1 deficit, 140 (18%) had 2 deficits, and 188 (24%) had ≥3 deficits. Specifically, 43% reported taking ≥9 medications daily, 28% had decreased social activity, 25% had ≥4 comorbidities, 23% had ≥1 impairment in instrumental activities of daily living, 18% had a Timed Up and Go time ≥14 seconds, 18% had ≥5% unintentional weight loss, and 12% had a Mental Health Index score ≤76.Conclusion
Within this sample of older cancer patients who were rated as functionally normal by KPS, GA identified important deficits that could affect treatment tolerance and outcomes.
SUBMITTER: Jolly TA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4391761 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Jolly Trevor A TA Deal Allison M AM Nyrop Kirsten A KA Williams Grant R GR Pergolotti Mackenzi M Wood William A WA Alston Shani M SM Gordon Brittaney-Belle E BB Dixon Samara A SA Moore Susan G SG Taylor W Chris WC Messino Michael M Muss Hyman B HB
The oncologist 20150312 4
<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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, functio ...[more]