Racial disparities in frailty and geriatric assessment impairments in older adults with cancer in the Deep South: Results from the CARE Registry

Relation between frailty and hypertension is partially mediated by physical activity among males and females in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Frailty reflects the heterogeneity in aging and may lead to the development of hypertension and heart disease, but the frailty-cardiovascular relationship and whether physical activity modifies this relationship in males and females are unclear. We tested whether higher frailty was positively associated with hypertension and heart disease in males and females and whether habitual movement mediated this relationship. The relationship between baseline frailty with follow-up hypertension and heart disease was investigated using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging at 3-year follow-up data (males: n = 13,095; females: n = 13,601). Frailty at baseline was determined via a 73-item deficit-based index, activity at follow-up was determined via the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and cardiovascular function was self-reported. Higher baseline frailty level was associated with a greater likelihood of hypertension and heart disease at follow-up, with covariate-adjusted odds ratios of 1.08-1.09 (all, P < 0.001) for a 0.01 increase in frailty index score. Among males and females, sitting time and strenuous physical activity were independently associated with hypertension, with these activity behaviors being partial mediators (except male-sitting time) for the frailty-hypertension relationship (explained 5-10% of relationship). The strength of this relationship was stronger among females. Only light-moderate activity partially mediated the relationship (∼6%) between frailty and heart disease in females, but no activity measure was a mediator for males. Higher frailty levels were associated with a greater incidence of hypertension and heart disease, and strategies that target increases in physical activity and reducing sitting may partially uncouple this relationship with hypertension, particularly among females.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Longitudinally, our study demonstrates that higher baseline frailty levels are associated with an increased risk of hypertension and heart disease in a large sample of Canadian males and females. Movement partially mediated this relationship, particularly among females.

The association between social vulnerability and geriatric assessment impairments among older adults with gastrointestinal cancers-The CARE Registry

BACKGROUND

Older adults comprise the majority of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Geriatric assessments (GAs) are recommended for older adults with cancer in part to detect aging-related impairments (e.g., frailty) associated with early mortality. Social factors like social vulnerability may also influence aging-related impairments. However, the association between social vulnerability and aging outcomes among older adults with cancer is understudied.

METHODS

The authors included 908 older adults aged 60 years and older who were recently diagnosed with GI cancer undergoing GA at their first prechemotherapy visit to the University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology clinic. The primary exposure of interest was the social vulnerability index (SVI). Outcomes were frailty (frail vs. robust/prefrail) and total number of GA impairments (range, 0-13). The authors examined the association between SVI and outcomes using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation and generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

The median age at GA was 69 years (interquartile range, 64-75 years), 58.2% of patients were male, 22.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 29.1% had colorectal cancer, 28.2% had pancreatic cancer, and 70.3% had stage III/IV disease. Adjusting for age, sex, cancer type, and disease stage, each decile increase in the SVI was associated with an 8% higher prevalence of frailty (prevalence ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.11) and a 4% higher average count of total GA impairments (risk ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.06). The results were attenuated after further adjustment for race and education.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater social vulnerability was associated with a higher prevalence of frailty and an increasing average number of GA impairments among older adults with GI cancers before systemic treatment. Intervening on social vulnerability may be a target for improving the risk of frailty and GA impairments, but associations of race and education should be further evaluated.

A scoping review of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in the outcomes of older adults with cancer

INTRODUCTION

Cancer health disparities are widespread. Nevertheless, the disparities in outcomes among diverse survivors of cancer ages 65 years and older ("older") have not been systematically evaluated.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of original research articles published between January 2016 and September 2023 and indexed in Medline (Ovid), Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. We included studies evaluating racial, ethnic, socioeconomic disadvantaged, geographic, sexual and gender, and/or persons with disabilities disparities in treatment, survivorship, and mortality among older survivors of cancer. We excluded studies with no a priori aims related to a health disparity, review articles, conference proceedings, meeting abstracts, studies with unclear methodologies, and articles in which the disparity group was examined only as an analytic covariate. Two reviewers independently extracted data following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

After searching and removing duplicates, 2573 unique citations remained and after screening 59 articles met the inclusion criteria. Many investigated more than one health disparity, and most focused on racial and ethnic (n = 44) or socioeconomic (n = 25) disparities; only 10 studies described geographic disparities, and none evaluated disparities in persons with disabilities or due to sexual and gender identity. Research investigating disparities in outcomes among diverse older survivors of cancer is increasing gradually-68% of eligible articles were published between 2020 and 2023. Most studies focused on the treatment phase of care (n = 28) and mortality (n = 26), with 16 examined disparities in survivorship, symptoms, or quality of life. Most research was descriptive and lacked analyses of potential underlying mechanisms contributing to the reported disparities.

CONCLUSION

Little research has evaluated the effect of strategies to reduce health disparities among older patients with cancer. This lack of evidence perpetuates cancer inequities and leaves the cancer care system ill equipped to address the unique needs of the rapidly growing and increasingly diverse older adult cancer population.

An Annual Symposium on Disparities in Milwaukee, WI, with a 2023 Focus on Older Adults with Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cancer-related inequities are prevalent in Wisconsin, with lower survival rates for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer patients from marginalized communities. This manuscript describes the ongoing efforts at the Medical College of Wisconsin and potential pathways of community engagement to promote education and awareness in reducing inequities in cancer care.

RECENT FINDINGS

While some cancer inequities are related to aggressive disease biology, health-related social risks may be addressed through community-academic partnerships via an open dialogue between the community members and academic faculty. To develop potential pathways of community-academic partnerships, an annual Cancer Disparities Symposium concept evolved as a pragmatic and sustainable model in an interactive learning environment. In this manuscript, we describe the programmatic development and execution of the annual Cancer Disparities Symposium, followed by highlights from this year's meeting focused on geriatric oncology as discussed by the speakers.

The association between food access and frailty among older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies-The CARE Registry

BACKGROUND

Food access is associated with higher gastrointestinal (GI) cancer mortality; however, its association with frailty, which is a predictor of premature mortality among older adults with cancer, is less understood.

METHODS

The authors included 880 adults aged 60 years and older who were recently diagnosed with GI cancers and were undergoing self-reported geriatric assessment at their first prechemotherapy visit to the University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology clinic. Food access was measured using the 2019 US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service designation low-income, low-access (LILA), classifying census tracts based on income and/or access to food stores at various distances. The primary outcome was frailty on the CARE (Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation) Frailty Index, a composite of the proportion of impaired geriatric assessment measures. The authors examined the LILA-frailty association with modified Poisson regression accounting for census-tract clustering.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 69 years, 58.1% were men, 22.5% were non-Hispanic Black, 29.2% had colorectal cancer, 28.0% had pancreatic cancer, 70.1% presented with stage III/IV disease, and 34.9% were frail. A higher proportion in LILA areas were non-Hispanic Black (44.1% vs. 10.8%; p < .001) and had less education (high school or less: 48.1% vs. 37.9%; p = .020). Adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, sex, cancer type and stage, and education, an LILA designation was associated with 58% greater odds of worsening frailty status (95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.12). An analysis of LILA subcategories revealed that associations were maintained across all LILA measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor food access was associated with a greater risk of frailty among newly diagnosed older adults with GI cancers before they received systemic treatment. Intervening on local food access, particularly in LILA areas, may be a target for improving rates of frailty and promoting health equity in this population.

Disparities in care of older adults of color with cancer: A narrative review

This review describes the barriers and challenges faced by older adults of color with cancer and highlights methods to improve their overall care. In the next decade, cancer incidence rates are expected to increase in the United States for people aged ≥65 years. A large proportion will be older adults of color who often have worse outcomes than older White patients. Many issues contribute to racial disparities in older adults, including biological factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) related to healthcare access, socioeconomic concerns, systemic racism, mistrust, and the neighborhood where a person lives. These disparities are exacerbated by age-related challenges often experienced by older adults, such as decreased functional status, impaired cognition, high rates of comorbidities and polypharmacy, poor nutrition, and limited social support. Additionally, underrepresentation of both patients of color and older adults in cancer clinical research results in a lack of adequate data to guide the management of these patients. Use of geriatric assessments (GA) can aid providers in uncovering age-related concerns and personalizing interventions for older patients. Research demonstrates the ability of GA-directed care to result in fewer treatment-related toxicities and improved quality of life, thus supporting the routine incorporation of validated GA into these patients' care. GA can be enhanced by including evaluation of SDOH, which can help healthcare providers understand and address the needs of older adults of color with cancer who face disparities related to their age and race.

The Association Between an Electronic Health Record (EHR)-Embedded Frailty Index and Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients with Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer on Immunotherapy: A Brief Report

Background: While frailty is a well-established predictor of overall mortality among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), its association with patient-reported outcomes is not well-characterized. The goal of this study was to examine the association between an electronic frailty index (eFI) score and patient-reported outcome measures along with prognostic awareness among patients with mNSCLC receiving immunotherapy. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, patients with mNSCLC who were on immunotherapy completed the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and the National Cancer Institute Patient Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). We utilized bivariate analyses to compare quality of life, symptoms, supportive services, and prognostic awareness among 3 groups defined by e-frailty status. Results: Sixty patients (mean age 62.5 years, 75% Caucasian, 60% women) participated. Most patients were pre-frail (68%), with 13% being frail and 18% non-frail. Pre-frail and frail patients had significantly lower physical function scores (mean 83.9 fit vs 74.8 pre-frail vs 60.0 frail, P = .04) and higher rates of self-reported pain (75% frail vs 41.5% pre-frail vs 18.2% fit; P = .04) compared to non-frail patients. We found no differences in palliative referral rates. Conclusion: Pre-frail and frail mNSCLC patients identified by the eFI have higher rates of pain and physical functional impairments than non-frail patients. These findings highlight the importance of emphasizing preventive interventions targeting social needs, functional limitations, and pain management, especially among pre-frail patients to reduce further decline.

Implementation of the Web-Enabled Cancer & Aging Resilience Evaluation (WeCARE) in an outpatient oncology setting

INTRODUCTION

Although geriatric assessments (GAs) are recommended for use in older adults with cancer, their integration into oncology practice remain suboptimal. Here, we report our experience integrating web-enabled GA (WeCARE) into oncology practice as an augmented delivery method and provider interface format to overcome implementation barriers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Older patients (≥60 years) with a gastro-intestinal (GI) malignancy presenting for an initial visit to medical oncology clinic at a single institution between December 7, 2021 and October 10, 2022 were contacted by staff two days in advance of their visits and sent a link to the WeCARE GA, rather than the paper version used previously. Results were directly embedded into the medical record. We describe our initial implementation outcomes and the results of a provider usability survey.

RESULTS

Of 266 eligible patients, 221 (83.1%) were successfully contacted by telephone and 200 (75.2%) completed the WeCARE prior to their appointment. More than one phone call was required to make contact for 35.7% of patients, with a mean duration of phone conversation of 2.8 min. Most patients preferred email delivery to text (63% vs 31%); 4.5% were unable to access surveys due to inadequate technology, and 25.7% brought up additional logistical concerns. Among GI oncology providers surveyed, all six found the WeCARE tool and dashboard acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. However, only a third of providers often or always used the dashboard to inform treatment decisions and guide interventions.

DISCUSSION

With nearly three-quarters of patients completing the WeCARE prior to their visits with minimal staff support and time required, this method of administration may be a viable format to overcome barriers to GA implementation. Additional work is needed to integrate the results meaningfully into clinical practice.

Racial Differences in Aging-Related Deficits Among Older Adults With Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite the known influences of both race- and aging-related factors in colorectal cancer outcomes and mortality, limited literature is available on the intersection between race and aging-related impairments.

OBJECTIVE

To explore racial differences in frailty and geriatric deficit subdomains among patients with colorectal cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective study using data from the Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation registry.

SETTINGS

A comprehensive cancer center in the Deep South.

PATIENTS

Older adults (aged ≥60 years) with colorectal cancer.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Measure of frailty and geriatric assessment subdomains of physical function, functional status, cognitive complaints, psychological function, and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Black patients lived in areas with a higher social vulnerability index compared to White patients (0.69 vs 0.49; p < 0.01) and had limited social support more often (54.5% vs 34.9%; p = 0.01). After adjustment for age, cancer stage, comorbidities, and social vulnerability index, Black patients were found to have a higher rate of frailty than White patients (adjusted OR 3.77; 95% CI, 1.76-8.18; p = 0.01). In addition, Black patients had more physical limitations (walking 1 block: adjusted OR 1.93; 95% CI, 1.02-3.69; p = 0.04), functional limitations (activities of daily living: adjusted OR 3.21; 95% CI, 1.42-7.24; p = 0.01), and deficits in health-related quality of life (poor global self-reported health: adjusted OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.23-5.13; p = 0.01). Similar findings were shown after stratification by stage I to III vs IV.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective study at a single institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Among older patients with colorectal cancer, Black patients were more likely to be frail than White patients, with deficits observed specifically in physical function, functional status, and health-related quality of life. Geriatric assessment may provide an important tool in addressing racial inequities in colorectal cancer.

DIFERENCIAS RACIALES EN LOS DFICITS RELACIONADOS CON EL ENVEJECIMIENTO ENTRE ADULTOS MAYORES CON CNCER COLORRECTAL

ANTECEDENTES: A pesar de las influencias conocidas de los factores relacionados con la raza y el envejecimiento en los resultados y la mortalidad del cáncer colorectal, hay muy poca literatura sobre la intersección entre los impedimentos relacionados con la raza y el envejecimiento.OBJETIVO: El objetivo era explorar las diferencias raciales en los subdominios de fragilidad y déficit geriátrico entre los pacientes con cáncer colorectal.DISEÑO: Estudio retrospectivo utilizando datos del registro Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation.AJUSTES: Un centro oncológico integral en el Sur Profundo.PACIENTES: Adultos mayores (≥60 años) con cáncer colorrectal de raza Negra o Blanca.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO: Medida compuesta de fragilidad y subdominios de evaluación geriátrica de función física, estado funcional, quejas cognitivas, función psicológica y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud.RESULTADOS: De los 304 pacientes incluidos, el 21,7% (n = 66) eran negros y la edad media era de 69 años. Los pacientes negros vivían en áreas con un índice de vulnerabilidad social (SVI) más alto en comparación con los pacientes blancos (SVI 0,69 vs 0,49; p < 0,01) y con mayor frecuencia tenían apoyo social limitado (54,5% vs 34,9%; p = 0,01). Después de ajustar por edad, estadio del cáncer, comorbilidades y SVI, los pacientes de raza negra tenían una mayor tasa de fragilidad en comparación con los pacientes de raza blanca (ORa 3,77, IC del 95%: 1,76-8,18; p = 0,01). Además, los pacientes negros tenían más limitaciones físicas (caminar 1 cuadra: ORa 1,93, IC 95% 1,02-3,69; p = 0,04), limitaciones funcionales (actividades de la vida diaria: ORa 3,21, IC 95% 1,42-7,24; p = 0,01 ) y déficits en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (mala salud global autoinformada: ORa 2,45, IC 95% 1,23-5,13; p = 0,01). Las quejas cognitivas y las funciones psicológicas no difirieron según la raza (p > 0,05). Se mostraron hallazgos similares después de la estratificación por estadio I-III frente a IV.LIMITACIONES: Estudio retrospectivo en una sola institución.CONCLUSIONES: Entre los pacientes mayores con cáncer colorrectal, los pacientes negros tenían más probabilidades que los pacientes blancos de ser frágiles, observándose déficits específicamente en la función física, el estado funcional y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. La evaluación geriátrica puede proporcionar una herramienta importante para abordar las desigualdades raciales en el cáncer colorrectal.

How frail is frail in oncology studies? A scoping review

AIMS

The frailty index (FI) is one way in which frailty can be quantified. While it is measured as a continuous variable, various cut-off points have been used to categorise older adults as frail or non-frail, and these have largely been validated in the acute care or community settings for older adults without cancer. This review aimed to explore which FI categories have been applied to older adults with cancer and to determine why these categories were selected by study authors.

METHODS

This scoping review searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for studies which measured and categorised an FI in adults with cancer. Of the 1994 screened, 41 were eligible for inclusion. Data including oncological setting, FI categories, and the references or rationale for categorisation were extracted and analysed.

RESULTS

The FI score used to categorise participants as frail ranged from 0.06 to 0.35, with 0.35 being the most frequently used, followed by 0.25 and 0.20. The rationale for FI categories was provided in most studies but was not always relevant. Three of the included studies using an FI > 0.35 to define frailty were frequently referenced as the rationale for subsequent studies, however, the original rationale for this categorisation was unclear. Few studies sought to determine or validate optimum FI categorises in this population.

CONCLUSION

There is significant variability in how studies have categorised the FI in older adults with cancer. An FI ≥ 0.35 to categorise frailty was used most frequently, however an FI in this range has often represented at least moderate to severe frailty in other highly-cited studies. These findings contrast with a scoping review of highly-cited studies categorising FI in older adults without cancer, where an FI ≥ 0.25 was most common. Maintaining the FI as a continuous variable is likely to be beneficial until further validation studies determine optimum FI categories in this population. Differences in how the FI has been categorised, and indeed how older adults have been labelled as 'frail', limits our ability to synthesise results and to understand the impact of frailty in cancer care.

Association of unmet basic resource needs with frailty and quality of life among older adults with cancer-Results from the CARE registry

BACKGROUND

Basic resource needs related to transportation, housing, food, and medications are important social determinants of health and modifiable indicators of poverty, but their role in modifying the risk of frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unknown. The goal of our study was to examine the prevalence of unmet basic needs and their association with frailty and HRQoL in a cohort of older adults with cancer.

METHODS

The CARE registry prospectively enrolls older adults (≥60 years) with cancer. Assessments of transportation, housing, and material hardship were added to the CARE tool in 8/2020. The 44-item CARE Frailty Index was used to define frailty, and subdomains of physical and mental HRQoL were assessed using the PROMIS® 10-global. Multivariable analysis examined the association between unmet needs with frailty and HRQoL subdomains, adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

The cohort included 494 participants. Median age of 69 years, 63.6% were male and 20.2% were Non-Hispanic (NH) Black. Unmet basic needs were reported in 17.8% (transportation 11.5%, housing 2.8%, and material hardship 7.5%). Those with unmet needs were more often NH Black (33.0% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.006) and less educated (

CONCLUSIONS

Unmet basic needs represent a novel exposure that is independently associated with frailty and low HRQoL and warrants the development of targeted interventions.

Collapse

Key Words

• aging
• basic resource needs
• cancer
• concrete resource needs
• frailty
• geriatric oncology

Collapse

MESH Headings

• Humans
• Male
• Aged
• Female
• Quality of Life
• Frailty/epidemiology
• Neoplasms/epidemiology
• Neoplasms/therapy
• Ethnicity
• Registries

Collapse

Grants

• K08 CA234225 NCI NIH HHS
• T32 HS013852 AHRQ HHS
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
• National Cancer Institute

Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Grant R. Williams Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Mackenzie Fowler Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Smith Giri Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Chen Dai Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Christian Harmon Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Mustafa Al‐Obaidi Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Coryn Stephenson University of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
Kira Bona Division of Population SciencesDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMassachusettsUSA
Wendy Landier Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Smita Bhatia Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
Julie Wolfson Institute for Cancer Outcomes & SurvivorshipUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA

Collapse

Association between major discrimination and deficit accumulation in African American cancer survivors: The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors Study

BACKGROUND

Discrimination can adversely affect health and accelerate aging, but little is known about these relationships in cancer survivors. This study examines associations of discrimination and aging among self-identified African American survivors.

METHODS

A population-based sample of 2232 survivors 20-79 years old at diagnosis were enrolled within 5 years of breast (n = 787), colorectal (n = 227), lung (n = 223), or prostate (n = 995) cancer between 2017 and 2022. Surveys were completed post-active therapy. A deficit accumulation index measured aging-related disease and function (score range, 0-1, where <0.20 is robust, 0.20 to <0.35 is pre-frail, and 0.35+ is frail; 0.06 is a large clinically meaningful difference). The discrimination scale assessed ever experiencing major discrimination and seven types of events (score, 0-7). Linear regression tested the association of discrimination and deficit accumulation, controlling for age, time from diagnosis, cancer type, stage and therapy, and sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

Survivors were an average of 62 years old (SD, 9.6), 63.2% reported ever experiencing major discrimination, with an average of 2.4 (SD, 1.7) types of discrimination events. Only 24.4% had deficit accumulation scores considered robust (mean score, 0.30 [SD, 0.13]). Among those who reported ever experiencing major discrimination, survivors with four to seven types of discrimination events (vs. 0-1) had a large, clinically meaningful increase in adjusted deficits (0.062, p < .001) and this pattern was consistent across cancer types.

CONCLUSION

African American cancer survivors have high deficit accumulated index scores, and experiences of major discrimination were positively associated with these deficits. Future studies are needed to understand the intersectionality between aging, discrimination, and cancer survivorship among diverse populations.

Technology-assisted behavioral intervention to encourage prehabilitation in frail older adults undergoing surgery: Development and design of the BeFitMe™ Apple Watch app

Objective

Increasing the physical activity of frail, older patients before surgery through prehabilitation (prehab) can hasten return to autonomy and reduce complications postoperatively. However, prehab participation is low in the clinical setting. In this study, we re-design an existing prehab smartphone application (BeFitMe™) using a novel standalone Apple Watch platform to increase accessibility and usability for vulnerable patients.

Methods

Design Science Research Methodology was used to (1) develop an approach to clinical research using standalone Apple Watches, (2) re-design BeFitMe™ for the Apple Watch platform, and (3) incorporate user feedback into app design. In phase 3, beta and user testers gave feedback via a follow-up phone call. Exercise data was extracted from the watch after testing. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize accessibility and usability.

Results

BeFitMe™ was redesigned for the Apple Watch with full functionality without requiring patients to have an iPhone or internet connectivity and the ability to passively collect exercise data without patient interaction. Three study staff participated in beta testing over 3 weeks. Six randomly chosen thoracic surgery patients participated in user testing over 12 weeks. Feedback from beta and user testers was addressed with updated software (versions 1.0-1.10), improved interface and notification schemes, and the development of educational materials used during enrollment. The majority of users (5/6, 83%) participated by responding to at least one notification and data was able to be collected for 54/82 (68%) of the days users had the watches. The amount of data collected in BeFitMe™ Watch app increased from 2/11 (16%) days with the first patient tester to 13/13 (100%) days with the final patient tester.

Conclusions

The BeFitMe™ Watch app is accessible and usable. The BeFitMe™ Watch app may help older patients, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds with fewer resources, participate in prehab prior to surgery.

Differences in Pretreatment Frailty Across Gastrointestinal Cancers in Older Adults: Results From the Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation Registry

PURPOSE

Frailty predicts poor outcomes in older adults with cancer, but how it differs between different cancer types is unknown. We examined differences in pretreatment frailty between colorectal (CRC), pancreatic, and hepatobiliary cancers.

METHODS

We included older adults age 60 years or older with the above cancer types enrolled in the Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation registry. Frailty was defined using a 44-item Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation frailty index constructed on the basis of the principles of deficit accumulation (including several geriatric assessment impairments encompassing malnutrition, functional status, comorbidities, anxiety, depression, cognitive complaints, health-related quality of life, falls, ability to walk one block, interference in social activities, and polypharmacy). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of frailty between cancer types.

RESULTS

A total of 505 patients were included (mean age 70 years, 59% male): 211 (41.8%) CRC, 178 (35.2%)pancreatic cancer, and 116 (23.0%) hepatobiliary cancer. Patients with pancreatic cancer had the highest prevalence of frailty (23.3% CRC, 40.6% pancreatic, 34.3% hepatobiliary; P = .001). Both pancreatic (aOR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.38 to 3.45), and hepatobiliary cancer (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.93) were independently associated with higher odds of frailty relative to CRC. Frailty was driven by higher rates of malnutrition and instrumental activities of daily living impairments in patients with pancreatic cancer and higher number of comorbidities in patients with hepatobiliary cancer.

CONCLUSION

Older adults with pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers are at high-risk of pretreatment frailty. Early interventions to improve nutritional and functional status and optimization of comorbidities may help improve outcomes.