Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Older Patients With Cancer

May 10, 2007Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

Detailed health assessment for older cancer patients

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Abstract

A comprehensive geriatric assessment can predict morbidity and mortality in older patients with cancer.

The use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) integrates geriatrics into oncology care.
A CGA evaluates functional status, comorbid conditions, cognition, nutrition, psychological state, social support, and medications.
Recent studies indicate that incorporating a CGA can uncover issues in cancer care that may otherwise remain undetected.
Prospective trials are needed to explore how a CGA can guide interventions aimed at improving cancer care for older adults.

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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.

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Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Older Patients With Cancer

Abstract

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