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Slaaen M, Røyset IM, Saltvedt I, Grønberg BH, Halsteinli V, Døhl Ø, Vossius C, Kirkevold Ø, Bergh S, Rostoft S, Oldervoll L, Bye A, Melby L, Røsstad T, Eriksen GF, Sollid MIV, Rolfson D, Šaltytė Benth J. Geriatric assessment with management for older patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy: a cluster-randomised controlled pilot study. BMC Med 2024; 22:232. [PMID: 38853251 PMCID: PMC11163782 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03446-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geriatric assessment and management (GAM) improve outcomes in older patients with cancer treated with surgery or chemotherapy. It is unclear whether GAM may provide better function and quality of life (QoL), or be cost-effective, in a radiotherapy (RT) setting. METHODS In this Norwegian cluster-randomised controlled pilot study, we assessed the impact of a GAM intervention involving specialist and primary health services. It was initiated in-hospital at the start of RT by assessing somatic and mental health, function, and social situation, followed by individually adapted management plans and systematic follow-up in the municipalities until 8 weeks after the end of RT, managed by municipal nurses as patients' care coordinators. Thirty-two municipal/city districts were 1:1 randomised to intervention or conventional care. Patients with cancer ≥ 65 years, referred for RT, were enrolled irrespective of cancer type, treatment intent, and frailty status, and followed the allocation of their residential district. The primary outcome was physical function measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30). Secondary outcomes were overall quality of life (QoL), physical performance, use and costs of health services. Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. Study registration at ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03881137. RESULTS We included 178 patients, 89 in each group with comparable age (mean 74.1), sex (female 38.2%), and Edmonton Frail Scale scores (mean 3.4 [scale 0-17], scores 0-3 [fit] in 57%). More intervention patients received curative RT (76.4 vs 61.8%), had higher irradiation doses (mean 54.1 vs 45.5 Gy), and longer lasting RT (mean 4.4 vs 3.6 weeks). The primary outcome was completed by 91% (intervention) vs 88% (control) of patients. No significant differences between groups on predefined outcomes were observed. GAM costs represented 3% of health service costs for the intervention group during the study period. CONCLUSIONS In this heterogeneous cohort of older patients receiving RT, the majority was fit. We found no impact of the intervention on patient-centred outcomes or the cost of health services. Targeting a more homogeneous group of only pre-frail and frail patients is strongly recommended in future studies needed to clarify the role and organisation of GAM in RT settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit Slaaen
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Pb 1171 Blindern, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Inga Marie Røyset
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway.
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Box 3250 Torgarden , Trondheim, NO-7006, Norway.
| | - Ingvild Saltvedt
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Box 3250 Torgarden , Trondheim, NO-7006, Norway
| | - Bjørn Henning Grønberg
- Department of Oncology, St. Olav Hospital, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Box 3250 Torgarden , Trondheim, NO-7006, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vidar Halsteinli
- Regional Center for Health Care Improvement, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Box 3250 Torgarden , Trondheim, NO-7006, Norway
| | - Øystein Døhl
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim Kommune, Postboks , Trondheim, Norway
| | - Corinna Vossius
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Centre for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Øyvind Kirkevold
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Postboks , Tønsberg, 2136, 3103, Norway
- Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, NTNU, Box 191, N-2802, Gjøvik, Norway
| | - Sverre Bergh
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Postboks , Tønsberg, 2136, 3103, Norway
| | - Siri Rostoft
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Pb 1171 Blindern, Oslo, 0318, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Pb , Nydalen, Norway
| | - Line Oldervoll
- Center for Crisis Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, 7807, 5020, Bergen, PB, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, 8905, 7491, Trondheim, PB, Norway
| | - Asta Bye
- Oslo Metropolitan University (Oslomet), Postboks 4, St. Olavs Plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway
- European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oslo, and, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, Norway
| | - Line Melby
- Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, NTNU, Box 191, N-2802, Gjøvik, Norway
| | - Tove Røsstad
- Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim Kommune, Postboks , Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, 8905, 7491, Trondheim, PB, Norway
| | - Guro Falk Eriksen
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Pb 1171 Blindern, Oslo, 0318, Norway
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hamar Hospital, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Skolegata 32, 2318, Hamar, Norway
| | - May Ingvild Volungholen Sollid
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, NTNU, Box 191, N-2802, Gjøvik, Norway
| | - Darryl Rolfson
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, 1-19811350 83 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P4, Canada
| | - Jūratė Šaltytė Benth
- The Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Box 68, 2312, Ottestad, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, P.O.Box 1171, 0318, Blindern, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, P.O.Box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
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AlSendi M, Flynn CR, Khan MR, Selvadurai P, Crown J, McDermott RS, Walshe JM, Fennelly DW, Hanrahan EO, Doherty M, Higgins MJ. Pilot study of the implementation of G8 screening tool, Cognitive screening assessment and Chemotherapy Toxicity assessment in older adults with cancer in a Tertiary University Hospital in Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:45-50. [PMID: 37450258 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03446-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended by international guidelines prior to initiation of systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT). In practice, CGA is limited by time constraints, lack of resources and expert interpretation. AIMS The primary objective of this pilot study was to establish the prevalence of frailty (assessed by G8), cognitive impairment (assessed by Mini-Cog), and risk of chemotherapy toxicity (assessed by CARG Chemo-Toxicity Calculator) among patients (pts) ≥65 years commencing SACT. We selected these three screening tools due to the ease of conducting them in a busy outpatient setting. In addition, they have been validated to predict frailty and risk of toxicity from SACT among older adults with cancer. METHODS Eligible participants were identified from medical oncology clinics. Assessments were conducted in an outpatient setting by treating physicians. Pt records were reviewed to gather demographic and cancer details. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS Sixty-three participants were enrolled. The mean age of participants was 73yrs (range=65-88). Thirty-three (52.4%) were female and 30 (47.6%) were male. The majority (n=38, 60.3%) had metastatic cancer. The mean G8 score was 11.9 (range=6-19). Eighty-three percent had a G8 score ≤14. Mini-Cog was positive in 13 pts (21%). The mean CARG score was 7.5 (range=0-16), and 80% had a risk of at least 50% grade ≥3 toxicity. Of these, 48 (76.2%) received chemotherapy and 15 (23.8%) received non-cytotoxic SACT. In multi-variate analyses, age, cancer type, treatment type, and disease stage did not impact G8, Mini-Cog, or CARG scores. CONCLUSIONS Our study has several limitations but suggests that the majority of older adults with cancer would qualify for formal CGA assessment. The risk of high-grade toxicity from SACT is substantial in this cohort. Chronological age was not found to negatively impact pts' frailty, cognition, or risk of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha AlSendi
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Calvin R Flynn
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Muhammad R Khan
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Selvadurai
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - John Crown
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Raymond S McDermott
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Janice M Walshe
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David W Fennelly
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Emer O Hanrahan
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Mark Doherty
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Michaela J Higgins
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
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