Comprehensive geriatric assessment for older patients with cancer

J Clin Oncol. 2007 May 10;25(14):1824-31. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.10.6559.

Abstract

Purpose: During the last decade, oncologists and geriatricians have begun to work together to integrate the principles of geriatrics into oncology care. The increasing use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is one example of this effort. A CGA includes an evaluation of an older individual's functional status, comorbid medical conditions, cognition, nutritional status, psychological state, and social support; and a review of the patient's medications. This article discusses recent advances on the use of a CGA in older patients with cancer.

Methods: In this article, we provide an update on the studies that address the domains of a geriatric assessment applied to the oncology patient, review the results of the first studies evaluating the use of a CGA in developing interventions to improve the care of older adults with cancer, and discuss future research directions.

Results: The evidence from recent studies demonstrates that a CGA can predict morbidity and mortality in older patients with cancer. Accumulating data show the benefits of incorporating a CGA in the evaluation of older patients with cancer. Prospective trials evaluating the utility of a CGA to guide interventions to improve the quality of cancer care in older adults are justified.

Conclusion: Growing evidence demonstrates that the variables examined in a CGA can predict morbidity and mortality in older patients with cancer, and uncover problems relevant to cancer care that would otherwise go unrecognized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cognition
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Management
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / methods*
  • Neoplasms* / complications
  • Neoplasms* / physiopathology
  • Neoplasms* / psychology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Nutritional Status
  • Polypharmacy
  • Social Support