Prognostic impact of neurocognitive disorders in older patients with cancer: the ELCAPA prospective cohort study

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging health & aging, 2024-05, Vol.28 (5), p.100215, Article 100215
• Main Authors: Conti, Catherine, Paillaud, Elena, Laurent, Marie, Poisson, Johanne, Boudou-Rouquette, Pascaline, Frelaut, Maxime, Gay, Pierre, Canovas, Johanna, Caillet, Philippe, Mebarki, Soraya, Broussier, Amaury, Canouï-Poitrine, Florence
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mortality; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - mortality; Neurocognitive disorder; Neurocognitive Disorders; Older adult; Prognosis; Prognostic value; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100215

•In older patients with cancer neurocognitive disorder is more prevalent than in younger patients and may have an impact on the disease outcome.•Major neurocognitive disorder was associated with higher overall mortality in older adults with cancer, independently of frailty and treatment.•Prognosis and treatment strategies might be refined by a more precise assessment of neurocognitive disorder in older patients with solid cancer. To assess the prognostic value of neurocognitive disorder (NCD) for 12 month-overall mortality in patients aged 70 or more with a solid cancer. prospective, observational, multicenter cohort. We analyzed data from the ELCAPA longitudinal multicenter observational cohort of patients aged 70 or over, referred for a geriatric assessment (GA) before a new cancer treatment modality between January 31st, 2007, and December 29th, 2017. We defined the baseline NCD in four classes: no NCD, mild NCD, moderate NCD, and major NCD, based on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, memory complaint, and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) score. We compared the baseline characteristics of patients according to NCD classes, globally and by pairs (with Bonferroni’ correction). Prognosis value of NCD classes were analysed by using univariable and then multivariable 12 month survival analysis with age as time-variable and with and without adjustement for the treatment strategy (curative, palliative or exclusive supportive care). 2784 patients with solid-cancer were included, with a median [interquartile range] age of 82 [78;86]. 36% of the patients were free of NCD, 34% had a mild NCD, 17% had a moderate NCD, and 13% had a major NCD. We identified the following independent prognostic factors for 12 month-overall mortality: NCD (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for a major NCD = 1.54 [1.19–1.98] (p < 0.001), type of cancer, metastatic status, inpatient consultation, poor general health (assessed as the level of fatigue and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [ECOG-PS]), greater weight loss, palliative treatment, and exclusive supportive care. Additional adjustment for the treatment strategy did not greatly change the strength of the association of a major NCD with 12 month-overall mortality (HR [95%CI] = 1.78 [1.39–2.29] (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the presence of a major NCD has direct prognostic value (independently of other geriatric factors, the type of cancer and the tr