Performance status and comorbidity in elderly cancer patients compared with young patients with neoplasia and elderly patients without neoplastic conditions

• Published in: Cancer 1998-02, Vol.82 (4), p.760-765
• Main Authors: Repetto, Lazzaro, Venturino, Antonella, Vercelli, Marina, Gianni, Walter, Biancardi, Vittorio, Casella, Claudia, Granetto, Cristina, Parodi, Stefano, Rosso, Riccardo, Marigliano, Vincenzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - psychology; Comorbidity; Delivery of Health Care; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; performance status; Prospective Studies; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - psychology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19980215)82:4<760::AID-CNCR20>3.0.CO;2-V

BACKGROUND Elderly people constitute a heterogeneous group and are at an increased risk for the development of cancer. It is not clear whether comorbid conditions and functional status influence clinical decisions and the pattern of referral in elderly cancer patients. The current study investigated functional status measured by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, comorbid conditions, and medication taken as well as social environment in three series of patients grouped according to age and diagnosis. METHODS A total of 593 patients were involved: 138 neoplastic patients age > 70 years with breast, colon, or prostate carcinoma, 177 neoplastic patients age < 70 years with the same types of pathology, and 278 elderly patients with nonneoplastic conditions. Patients with neoplastic disease were recruited from cancer centers; patients with nonneoplastic disease were recruited from either geriatric or general medicine departments. Differences in the distribution of variables were analyzed by univariate and bivariate analyses. RESULTS No significant differences in social environment, marital status, or education were observed. Statistical differences were noted when comparing the distribution of comorbidities, performance status, and medication taken, elderly neoplastic patients presented in poorer condition compared with younger patients but in better condition compared with elderly patients with nonneoplastic disease. CONCLUSIONS The overall better health of older cancer patients compared with those without cancer needs to be assessed further. It is possible that cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in healthier elderly, or that primary care providers are reluctant to refer for cancer care patients in poor general health. Studies of comorbidity, function, and social resources are necessary to establish the impact of cancer on survival and quality of life of older patients and to determine the social resources necessary for adequate care. Cancer 1998;82:760‐5. ©; 1998 American Cancer Society. Elderly people constitute a heterogeneous group and represent the majority of cancer patients. Our data indicate that only healthier older cancer patients are referred for specialized cancer care.