Changes in functional status in older newly-diagnosed cancer patients during cancer treatment: A six-month follow-up period. Results of a prospective pilot study

Patient-reported geriatric assessment-based frailty index among older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies

BACKGROUND

Older adults with cancer are at increased risk of treatment-related toxicities and excess mortality. We evaluated whether a patient-reported geriatric assessment (GA) based frailty index can identify those at risk of adverse outcomes.

METHODS

Older adults (≥60 years) enrolled in a single-institutional prospective registry underwent patient-reported GA at initial evaluation in our medical oncology clinic. Using deficit accumulation method, we constructed a 44-item frailty index (CARE-FI), categorizing patients as robust, pre-frail, and frail. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included (a) functional decline at 3 months post-therapy (b) incident grade ≥3 treatment-related toxicities at six-month post-treatment. We used multivariate Cox and logistic regression models respectively to study the impact of frailty on primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 589 older adults with a median age of 69 years; 55% males and 73% Whites. Overall, 168 (29%) were pre-frail and 230 (39%) frail. Being frail (vs. robust) was associated with worse OS (Hazards Ratio, HR 1.83, 95% Confidence Interval, CI 1.34-2.49, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer type, cancer stage, and line of therapy. Similarly, frailty was associated with increased risk of functional decline (OR 3.01; 95% CI 1.33-6.81; p = 0.008) and grade ≥3 non-hematologic toxicities (OR 3.65; 95% CI 1.54-8.69; p = 0.003) but not hematologic toxicities (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.46-2.22; p = 0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

Our frailty index using a patient-reported GA is a robust predictor of survival, functional decline, and treatment related toxicity among older adults with GI malignancies.

Functional status in older patients with cancer and a frailty risk profile: A multicenter observational study

INTRODUCTION

Functional status (FS) and frailty are significant concerns for older adults, especially those with cancer. Data on FS (Activities of Daily Living [ADL]; Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL]) and its evolution during cancer treatment in older patients and a frailty risk profile are scarce. Therefore, this study examines FS and its evolution in older patients with cancer and a frailty risk profile and investigates characteristics associated with functional decline.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This secondary data-analysis, focusing on FS, uses data from a large prospective multicenter observational cohort study. Patients ≥70 years with a solid tumor and a frailty risk profile based on the G8 screening tool (score ≤ 14) were included. A geriatric assessment was performed including evaluation of FS based on ADL and IADL. At approximately three months of follow-up, FS was reassessed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictive factors for functional decline in ADL and IADL.

RESULTS

Data on ADL and IADL were available at baseline and follow-up in 3388 patients. At baseline 1886 (55.7%) patients were dependent for ADL, whereas 2085 (61.5%) patients were dependent at follow-up. Functional decline was observed in 23.6% of patients. For IADL 2218 (65.5%) patients were dependent for IADL, whereas 2591 (76.5%) patients were dependent at follow-up. Functional decline in IADL was observed in 41.0% of patients. In multivariable analysis, disease stage III or IV, comorbidities, falls history in the past twelve months, and FS measured by IADL were predictive factors for functional decline in both ADL and IADL. Other predictive factors for functional decline in ADL were polypharmacy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status (ECOG-PS) score 2-4, and cognitive impairment, and for functional decline in IADL were female sex, fatigue, and risk for depression.

DISCUSSION

Functional impairments are frequent in older persons with cancer and a frailty risk profile, and several characteristics are identified that are significantly associated with functional decline. Therefore, FS is an essential part of the geriatric assessment which should be standard of care for this patient population. Next step is to proceed with directed interventions with the aim to limit the risk of functional decline as much as possible.

Changes in functional status associated with radiation for prostate cancer in older veterans

BACKGROUND

Although older men value maintaining independence and avoiding functional decline, little is known about their functional trajectories with receipt of prostate radiation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study including veterans age 65+ with localized prostate cancer who resided in a VA nursing facility while receiving prostate radiation from 2005 to 2015. We evaluated the change in Minimum Data Set (MDS) activities of daily living (ADL) score during 6 months from the start of treatment. Because prior studies have shown Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to be a strong predictor of treatment-related toxicity, analysis included interaction with CCI.

RESULTS

We identified 487 patients with median age 73 (range 65-94). For the average patient in our cohort, the predicted MDS-ADL score worsened from 2.9 (95% CI 2.4-3.6) at the start of radiation to 3.8 (95% CI 3.1-4.8) at 3 months and then 4.5 (95% CI 3.5-5.7) at month 6. Patients with greater comorbidity (CCI ≥ 4) had worse functional outcomes in months 0-3 compared to patients with less comorbidity (CCI 0-3). MDS-ADL score worsened by 1.9 in the CCI ≥4 patients compared to 0.3 in the CCI 0-3 group During months 3-6, patients in both Charlson groups experienced similar worsening of MDS-ADL score.

CONCLUSIONS

In a vulnerable population of older patients with localized prostate cancer, radiation was associated with a decline in functional independence. Patients with higher comorbidity experienced more severe functional decline within the first 3 months of radiation therapy. In all comorbidity levels, functional status had not returned to baseline by 6 months.

Determinants of functional decline in older adults experiencing cancer (the INCAPAC study)

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported on the higher risk of functional decline among older patients with cancer. However, few have focused on factors of functional decline in older persons with cancer and are mainly hospital-based and focus on consequences of cancer treatment. The aim of the study was to identify determinants of functional decline in older subjects with cancer in a population-based study.

METHODS

Using cancer registries, we identified older subjects (age ≥ 65 years) with cancer in three prospective cohort studies from Gironde, a French department. Functional status was measured using the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and the basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scales, and functional decline was measured between cancer pre- and post-diagnosis visits. Studied variables were demographic and socioeconomic (age at diagnosis, sex, living alone, education), cancer-related (stage at diagnosis, treatment received), smoking status, health-related (polypharmacy, depressive symptomatology), and geriatric-specific (cognitive impairment or dementia). Analyses were performed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Age (≥85 years), cognitive impairment or dementia, and advanced stage at diagnosis were associated with a higher risk of ADL limitations, whether considering death or not. Age (≥85 years), education and polypharmacy were associated with a higher risk of ADL and/or IADL limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified factors that could impact on ADL and/or IADL limitations in older patients with cancer. The information on these determinants is useful in clinical settings to identify patients with cancer at high risk of functional decline.

Characteristics Associated With Physical Function Trajectories in Older Adults With Cancer During Chemotherapy

CONTEXT

Studies on physical function trajectories in older adults during chemotherapy remain limited.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to determine demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics associated with initial levels as well as trajectories of physical function over two cycles of chemotherapy in adults aged ≥65 years with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer.

METHODS

Older adults with cancer (n = 363) who had received chemotherapy within the preceding four weeks were assessed six times over two cycles of chemotherapy using the Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to evaluate for interindividual variability in initial levels and trajectories of PCS scores.

RESULTS

Mean age was 71.4 years (SD 5.5). Mean PCS score at enrollment was 40.5 (SD .45). On average, PCS scores decreased slightly (i.e., 0.21 points) at each subsequent assessment. Lower PCS scores at enrollment were associated with older age, greater comorbidity, being unemployed, lack of regular exercise, higher morning fatigue, lower evening energy, occurrence of pain, lower trait anxiety, and lower attentional function. Only higher morning fatigue and lower enrollment PCS scores were associated with decrements in physical function over time.

CONCLUSION

While several symptoms were associated with decrements in PCS scores at enrollment in older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy, morning fatigue was the only symptom associated with decreases in physical function over time. Regular assessments of symptoms and implementation of evidence-based interventions should be considered to maintain physical function in older adults during chemotherapy.

Geriatric Assessment and Functional Decline in Older Patients with Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

Older patients with lung cancer are a heterogeneous population making treatment decisions complex. This study aims to evaluate the value of geriatric assessment (GA) as well as the evolution of functional status (FS) in older patients with lung cancer, and to identify predictors associated with functional decline and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

At baseline, GA was performed in patients ≥70 years with newly diagnosed lung cancer. FS measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was reassessed at follow-up to define functional decline and OS was collected. Predictors for functional decline and OS were determined.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty-five patients were included in this study. At baseline, GA deficiencies were present in all domains and ADL and IADL were impaired in 51 and 63% of patients, respectively. At follow-up, functional decline in ADL was observed in 23% and in IADL in 45% of patients. In multivariable analysis, radiotherapy was predictive for ADL decline. No other predictors for ADL or IADL decline were identified. Stage and baseline performance status were predictive for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients with lung cancer present with multiple deficiencies covering all geriatric domains. During treatment, functional decline is observed in almost half of the patients. None of the specific domains of the GA were predictive for functional decline or survival, probably because of the high impact of the aggressiveness of this tumor type leading to a poor prognosis.