Patient navigation and activation interventions for elderly patients with cancer: A systematic review.

Patient navigation (PN) and patient activation (PA) interventions are widely used to help patients with cancer to manage the disease and the care trajectory. However, the usability and impact of these interventions on older patients and their well-being are unclear. This study aims to show which PN and PA interventions are being used and what impact they have. After systematically searching the literature, we assessed the quality of the publications we found. The publications had to involve at least a subgroup of older people with minimally one abnormal oncologic test result each, and they had to focus on PN or PA interventions. Six PA publications examined the interventions exclusively for elderly patients. Each of the 11 PN and PA publications contained at least one comment about the impact on older patients. The types of impact varied substantially, but there was scant attention to the quality of life. The type of intervention, the outcome measures and the quality of publications also varied considerably. Generally, age is not an important factor in PN and PA studies. To facilitate adjustment of navigation and activation interventions to the individual patient, more rigorous research into the impact of PN and PA interventions on older patients is necessary.

The effect of music therapy compared with general recreational activities in reducing agitation in people with dementia: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of music therapy with general recreational day activities in reducing agitation in people with dementia, residing in nursing home facilities. METHODS: In a randomised controlled design, residents with dementia (n = 94) were allocated to either music therapy or recreational activities. Both music therapy and general activities were offered twice weekly for 4 months. Changes in agitation were measured with a modified Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) at four intervals on each intervention day. A mixed model analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy, compared with general activities, on CMAI scores at 4 h after the intervention, controlled for CMAI scores at 1 h before the session and session number. RESULTS: Data were analysed for 77 residents (43 randomised to music therapy and 34 to general activities). In both groups, the intervention resulted in a decrease in agitated behaviours from 1 h before to 4 h after each session. This decrease was somewhat greater in the music therapy group than in the general activities group, but this difference was statistically not significant (F = 2.885, p = 0.090) and disappeared completely after adjustment for Global Deterioration Scale stage (F = 1.500; p = 0.222). CONCLUSIONS: Both music therapy and recreational activities lead to a short-term decrease in agitation, but there was no additional beneficial effect of music therapy over general activities. More research is required to provide insight in the effects of music therapy in reducing agitation in demented older people.

Quality of life, geriatric assessment and survival in elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with carboplatin-gemcitabine or carboplatin-paclitaxel: NVALT-3 a phase III study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may derive similar benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy as younger patients. Quality of life (QoL) and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is often advocated to assess benefits and risks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 181 chemotherapy-naive patients [≥70 years, performance score (PS) of 0-2] with stage III-IV NSCLC received carboplatin and gemcitabine (CG) (n = 90) or carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) (n = 91) every 3 weeks for up to four cycles. Primary end point was change in global QoL from baseline compared with week 18. Pretreatment CGA and mini geriatric assessment during and after treatment were undertaken. A principal component (PC) analysis was carried out to determine the underlying dimensions of CGA and QoL and subsequently related to survival. RESULTS: There were no changes in QoL after treatment. The number of QoL responders (CG arm, 12%; CP arm, 5%) was not significantly different. CGA items were only associated with neuropsychiatric toxicity. Quality-adjusted survival was not different between treatment arms. The PC analysis derived from nine CGA, six QoL and one PS score indicated only one dominant dimension. This dimension was strongly prognostic, and physical and role functioning, Groningen Frailty Indicator and Geriatric Depression Scale were its largest contributors. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel or gemcitabine added to carboplatin did not have a differential effect on global QoL. CGA was associated with toxic effects in a very limited manner. CGA and QoL items measure one underlying dimension, which is highly prognostic.

Extended esophagectomy in elderly patients with esophageal cancer: minor effect of age alone in determining the postoperative course and survival.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients who undergo esophagectomy for cancer often have a high prevalence of coexisting diseases, which may adversely affect their postoperative course. We determined the relationship of advanced age (i.e., > or =70 years) with outcome and evaluated age as a selection criterion for surgery. METHODS: Between January 1991 and January 2007, we performed a curative-intent extended transthoracic esophagectomy in 234 patients with cancer of the esophagus. Patients were divided into two age groups: <70 years (group I; 170 patients) and > or =70 years (group II; 64 patients). RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding comorbidity (American Society of Anesthesiologists classification), and tumor and surgical characteristics. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 6.2% (group I, 5%, vs. group II, 11%, P = 0.09). Advanced age was not a prognostic factor for developing postoperative complications (odds ratio, 1.578; 95% confidence interval, 0.857-2.904; P = 0.143). The overall number of complications was equal with 58% in group I vs. 69% in group II (P = 0.142). Moreover, the occurrence of complications in elderly patients did not influence survival (P = 0.174). Recurrences developed more in patients <70 years (58% vs. 42%, P = 0.028). The overall 5-year survival was 35%, and, when included, postoperative mortality was 33% in both groups (P = 0.676).The presence of comorbidity was an independent prognostic factor for survival (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age (> or =70 years) has minor influence on postoperative course, recurrent disease, and survival in patients who underwent an extended esophagectomy. Age alone is not a prognostic indicator for survival. We propose that a radical resection should not be withheld in elderly patients with limited frailty and comorbidity.

Treatable Vascular Risk and Cognitive Performance in Persons Aged 35 Years or Older: Longitudinal Study of Six Years.

BACKGROUND: Poor cognitive performance is associated with high vascular risk. However, this association is only investigated in elderly. As neuropathological changes precede clinical symptoms of cognitive impairment by several decades, it is likely that cognitive performance is already associated with vascular risk at middle-age. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of cognitive performance with treatable vascular risk in middle-aged and old persons. DESIGN: Longitudinal study with three measurements during follow-up period of 5.5 years. SETTING: City of Groningen, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Cohort of 3,572 participants (age range, 35-82 years; mean age, 54 years; men, 52%). EXPOSURE: Treatable vascular risk as defined by treatable components of the Framingham Risk Score for Cardiovascular Disease at the first measurement (diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension). MEASUREMENTS: Change in cognitive performance during follow-up. Cognitive performance was measured with Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT) and Visual Association Test (VAT), and calculated as the average of the standardized RFFT and VAT score per participant. RESULTS: The mean (SD) cognitive performance changed from 0.00 (0.79) at the first measurement to 0.15 (0.83) at second measurement and to 0.39 (0.82) at the third measurement (Ptrend<0.001). This change was negatively associated with treatable vascular risk: the change in cognitive performance between two measurements decreased with 0.004 per one-point increment of treatable vascular risk (95%CI, -0.008 to 0.000; P=0.05) and with 0.006 per one-year increment of age (95%CI, -0.008 to -0.004; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Change in cognitive performance was associated with treatable vascular risk in persons aged 35 years or older.

This is an older men's world: A qualitative study of men's experiences with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer is highly prevalent and invasive among older men. Not knowing their experiences hampers care and support to men with prostate cancer and prostate cancer survivors. This study aims to provide insight into older men's experiences with prostate cancer in order to improve personalised care. METHODS: A qualitative research design through semi-structured interviews with 22 older men with prostate cancer was conducted in two areas of the Netherlands in 2015. Patients were selected through systematic non-probabilistic sampling. The transcripts were analysed with conventional content analysis and affinity diagramming. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data: impact of prostate cancer, dealing with prostate cancer and treatment, involvement of and with others, and experiences with professional care and the care trajectory. The way patients dealt with prostate cancer and their experiences with the care they received varied. Overall, hospital care was rated positively, and communication was a crucial determinant of the patient's satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Some patients lacked information about their health status, which may have influenced decision-making processes. Some were reluctant to talk about their disease with other people and sometimes hesitated to ask for help. CONCLUSION: Despite many positive care experiences, some patients felt that the communication, information provision and decision-making were inadequate. Vulnerable patients with severe complications or limited social support may need additional psychosocial care. Lowering the threshold for patients to ask for help and the availability of a professional with expert knowledge about prostate cancer and ageing may decrease unnecessary hardship and increase personal strengths.

[The prevalence of combined vision impairment and hearing loss: the importance of comorbidity studies]. / De prevalentie van gecombineerde visus- en gehoorbeperking: het belang van comorbiditeitsonderzoek.

Eight recent Dutch studies were analysed to determine the prevalence of dual sensory impairment: impaired vision and hearing loss. The study showed a strong increase in the prevalence of dual sensory impairment above the age of 85. In the general population, there was a 10-fold increase in prevalence between 65-80 years of age (0.5%) and 85 years and older (6%). For all age categories, the prevalence was even higher in nursing homes (7-25%) and among mentally retarded persons (6-13%). Visual impairment and hearing loss have negative effects on well-being because of the impact on resources and because of an increase in dependency and stress. Other forms of comorbidity with vision impairment or hearing loss, such as combinations with cardiovascular or psychiatric diseases, are even more important for healthcare than dual sensory impairment. The influence of comorbidity on functioning and well-being is still poorly investigated and there is a lack of empirical evidence concerning the effect of treatment in comorbid conditions.

['The old man's friend': differences between The Netherlands and the United States with regards to decision-making for the treatment of pneumonia in nursing home patients with dementia]. / 'The old man's friend': verschillen in besluitvorming over behandeling van pneumonie bij demente verpleeghuispatiënten in Nederland en de Verenigde Staten.

Lower respiratory-tract infections are a leading cause of death in frail elderly patients. A comparative study of nursing home patients with dementia in The Netherlands and the United States found a difference in attitudes regarding the treatment of pneumonia. Specifically, treatment regimens were far more aggressive in the United States than in The Netherlands for patients with severe illness. Antibiotics were withheld in 56% of these patients in The Netherlands compared with 15% in the United States. Despite the different treatment approaches, adjusted mortality rates were similar. In The Netherlands, geriatricians and family members of patients with dementia have become aware of the potentially harmful effects of the aggressive treatment approaches that are often part of professional treatment protocols, particularly in patients for whom palliative care is more appropriate.

[Questioning the ability to drive in patients with cognitive disorders]. / Twijfel aan de rijgeschiktheid bij patiënten met cognitieve stoornissen.

The relatives of an 81-year-old man questioned whether he was fit to drive, but he refused to discuss the matter. His son sent a written notice to the Dutch Driving License Centre (CBR) and the physicians were about to do so when the man fell and spent one night lying on the floor in his house. The man was hospitalised and his son took his car keys away. The approach to assessing the ability to drive in patients with cognitive disorders and dementia is a difficult matter, especially when a patient is unaware of his or her illness. At this time, licensed drivers with cognitive disorders are not obliged to report the disorder to the CBR. The CBR considers patients with dementia unfit to drive without further investigation, whereas patients with cognitive disorders must pass a driving test. This may become problematic with the early diagnosis of dementia that is preferred today. On the other hand, caregivers may have to announce a patient to the CBR when they become unfit to drive due to dementia.

[Measures for patients taking psychotropic drugs who undergo elective surgery]. / Maatregelen bij patiënten die psychofarmaca gebruiken en die een electieve operatie moeten ondergaan.

Psychotropic drugs can increase the risk of perioperative complications when given in combination with anaesthesia. Evidence-based guidelines that address this issue are lacking. Consensus-based recommendations were formed for the perioperative management of these patients based on the available literature and a systematic evaluation of perioperative risks by the medical specialists directly involved. Patients who use lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants or clozapine are at risk of experiencing adverse interactions. The anaesthesiology literature recommends discontinuing irreversible MAOIs and lithium in all cases, and tricyclic antidepressants in patients with systemic disorders. With the exception of lithium, the risks of psychiatric relapse or recurrence associated with discontinuation necessitate intensive integrated psychiatric treatment. Continuation of treatment under strict haemodynamic observation may also be an option in some cases. Patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) should be observed carefully for psychological instability and physical abnormalities, and clinicians should be aware of medications that could increase the risk of haemorrhage when used in combination with SSRIs. In these cases, a psychiatrist should be consulted. The same is true for patients taking antipsychotic or other antidepressant medication who develop psychological instability or have a systemic disorder. Given the widespread use ofpsychotropic drugs and the seriousness of the associated risks, it is recommended that the decision whether to continue or discontinue psychotropic medication should become a standard component of preoperative assessment.

[Medical treatment of people with dementia requires dealing with uncertainty]. / Medisch handelen bij mensen met dementie is omgaan met onzekerheid.

Here we report on a number of medical dilemmas during the final 6 years of life of a 78-year-old woman with dementia. Questions concerning both diagnostic procedures and treatment options are discussed. The first dilemma concerns mild symptoms leading to the diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and the requirement for anticoagulation; the second dilemma concerns vague symptoms of tiredness with anaemia leading to the diagnosis of colon cancer and the requirement for surgery. The conclusion is that there are no protocols that can be used to solve questions of this nature, and we need careful reflection with colleagues, the patient and important people in the patient's life in order to make decisions in the best interest of the quality of life as experienced by the patient. This is a complicated task for any doctor who has to deal with medical uncertainties and an incapacitated patient.

Het effect van sociale vergelijkingsinformatie op de levenssatisfactie van fragiele ouderen.

Social comparison is increasingly recognized as an important cognitive process in adaptation to old age. By comparing themselves with age peers who are doing worse, i.e., downward comparison, older persons can make an adjusted assessment that allows them to reinterpret their present lives in a positive manner. "Even though I can no longer do my own shopping, I'm still fortunate compared to those who can not leave their houses at all". In this way, older persons may preserve a certain level of life satisfaction, despite age-related loss. In a study among 455 community-dwelling older persons, the effects of social comparison on life satisfaction were examined. Older persons were confronted with a fictitious interview with either an upward or a downward target. After downward comparison, older persons felt more satisfied with their lives than after upward comparison, especially those who had higher levels of frailty. These effects were only found with lower levels of identification. With higher levels of identification, older persons felt more satisfied with their lives after upward comparison than after downward comparison. Apparently, downward comparison only serves its self-enhancing function on life satisfaction among frail elderly persons when they perceive the comparison target as different from themselves.

['Ageing with ambition'; a recommendation from the Health Council of The Netherlands]. / 'Vergrijzen met ambitie'; een advies van de Gezondheidsraad.

The Health Council of the Netherlands, at the request of the policy committee for the elderly of the Dutch parliament, has deliberated over the intermediate- and long-term developments in the field of 'care and ageing'. In a comprehensive report, the overall conclusion is that there is sufficient room for the ambition to stimulate the health, independence and welfare of the elderly. The effects of biological ageing and the connections that exist between ageing, life span, illness and wellbeing are addressed. The number of people with illnesses and functional disorders will inevitably increase with ageing of the population. Nevertheless, numerous opportunities will arise to achieve health benefits and increase the quality of life. A range of measures is proposed in the field of prevention and treatment. An innovative policy on the elderly, political courage and social solidarity will be necessary in order to achieve 'ageing with ambition'. However, as pointed out in the report, health care is not merely an expense but also an important service industry that provides employment to a large number of people.

[Lithium use and perioperative management]. / Lithiumgebruik en het beleid bij een operatieve ingreep.

A 62-year-old man presented with diminished consciousness, hypotension, hypoglycaemia and agitation. He had undergone heart surgery 1.5 weeks earlier. Due to a stroke as a postoperative complication, antihypertensive medication had been added. His lithium medication had been interrupted only on the first postoperative day. The presenting complaints were due to delirium as a result of lithium intoxication. The delirium faded away after interruption of the lithium medication and treatment with haloperidol and oxazepam. The patient and his family were informed as to the nature of the delirium and the precautions to be taken in case of any future disease or operation. Lithium should be discontinued preoperatively in all patients. If necessary, alternative psychiatric medication must be prescribed. After restarting lithium, the serum levels of lithium must be monitored.

Construct validity of the Groningen Frailty Indicator established in a large sample of home-dwelling elderly persons: Evidence of stability across age and gender.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI) in a sample of Dutch elderly persons participating in LifeLines, a large population-based cohort study. Additional aims were to assess differences between frail and non-frail elderly and examine which individual characteristics were associated with frailty. METHODS: By December 2012, 5712 elderly persons were enrolled in LifeLines and complied with the inclusion criteria of the present study. Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the variability of GFI-scores among elderly subgroups that differed in demographic characteristics, morbidity, obesity, and healthcare utilization. Within subgroups Kruskal-Wallis tests were also used to examine differences in GFI-scores across age groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between individual characteristics and frailty. RESULTS: The GFI discriminated between subgroups: statistically significantly higher GFI-median scores (interquartile range) were found in e.g. males (1 [0-2]), the oldest old (2 [1-3]), in elderly who were single (1 [0-2]), with lower socio economic status (1 [0-3]), with increasing co-morbidity (2 [1-3]), who were obese (2 [1-3]), and used more healthcare (2 [1-4]). Overall age had an independent and statistically significant association with GFI scores. Compared with the non-frail, frail elderly persons experienced statistically significantly more chronic stress and more social/psychological related problems. In the multivariate logistic regression model, psychological morbidity had the strongest association with frailty. CONCLUSION: The present study supports the construct validity of the GFI and provides an insight in the characteristics of (non)frail community-dwelling elderly persons participating in LifeLines.

Interventions to prevent postoperative delirium in elderly cancer patients should be targeted at those undergoing nonsuperficial surgery with special attention to the cognitive impaired patients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly cancer patients. METHODS: This study was an observational multicentre retrospective study performed in the University Medical Center Groningen and Medical Center Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. Patients over 65 years of age undergoing elective surgery for a solid tumour were included. The main outcome was POD. Medical records were screened for POD using a standardized instrument. The risk factors considered were: age, gender, severity of the surgical procedure, comorbidity, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score and 15 items suggestive for frailty as measured with the Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI). To examine an association between the risk factors and the development of POD, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: We reviewed 251 medical records. Forty-six patients developed POD (18.3%). Preoperative cognitive functioning (as measured by the item cognition of the GFI) (OR: 23.36; 95% CI: 5.33-102.36) and severity of the surgical procedure were identified as independent risk factors for POD; intermediate (OR: 15.44, 95% CI: 1.70-140.18) and major surgical procedures (OR: 45.01, 95% CI: 5.22-387.87) significantly increased the risk for POD as compared to minor surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative cognitive functioning and the severity of the surgical procedure are independent risk factors for POD in elderly undergoing elective surgery for a solid tumour.

[Zinc deficiency in geriatric patients. A study on a geriatric department's wheeling and dealing]. / Zinktekort bij geriatrische patiënten. Onderzoek op een geriatrische afdeling en stand van zaken.

We studied the prevalence of zinc deficiency in patients who were hospitalised in a geriatric ward and its association with risk factors for this deficiency and the possible symptoms. The serum zinc level was measured from 45 consecutive admissions to a geriatric ward and patient characteristics were collected. A peer group of healthy subjects originating from a population survey was used as a control group. The serum zinc measured in the admitted patients was significantly lower than the reference value for adults (65.8% had a lowered zinc level) and the serum zinc for healthy elderly. There was no association found with possible causes of zinc deficiency. In an univariate analysis lethargy was the only significant association to zinc deficiency. There was a reverse relationship between the sum of the number of present symptoms and the zinc proportion A lower zinc level is associated with symptoms of zinc deficiency. As more symptoms appear the probability of zinc deficiency is greater. The importance for the clinical practice based on present knowledge is discussed.

[Chronic heart failure and depression: the limitations of specialization-specific multidisciplinary guidelines]. / Chronisch hartfalen en depressie: beperkingen van specialisme-specifieke multidisciplinaire richtlijnen.

Recently two monodisciplinary guidelines, 'Mood disorders' and 'Chronic heart failure', were upgraded to multidisciplinary guidelines in order to guarantee an appropriate long-term care trajectory for these patients. Neither guideline mentions clinically relevant interactions despite the extensive research in this area over the past decade. The guideline for chronic heart failure should include information on how to detect patients who are depressed or at risk of depression and that depressed patients are at risk of non-compliance with the cardiac treatment. In the guideline for mood disorders excess mortality and the need for combined treatment with cardiologists should be mentioned.

[Effective tracing of osteoporosis at a fracture and osteoporosis clinic in Groningen; an analysis of the first 100 patients]. / Doeltreffende opsporing van osteoporose in de fractuur- en osteoporosepolikliniek in Groningen; analyse na de eerste 100 patiënten.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results from a fracture and osteoporosis (FO) outpatient clinic in order to achieve efficient case-finding for osteoporosis in patients of 50 years and older with a fracture due to low-energy trauma. DESIGN: Descriptive. METHOD: Following the publication of new professional guidelines for case-finding and treatment of osteoporosis, an FO outpatient clinic was opened at the University Hospital of Groningen, The Netherlands, to which patients of 50 years and older with a fracture due to low-energy trauma could be referred for further diagnosis and treatment after initial treatment for trauma. Bone-mineral density of the lumbar spine, hip and distal radius was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Patients with manifest osteoporosis, defined as having a fracture and a T-score < or = -2 SD at one of the measured sites, were put on medication. The results from the first 100 patients were analysed. RESULTS: In the first five months 74% (116/156) of the patients were seen in the FO clinic. In January 2004 the first 100 patients completed the diagnostic process. A total of 67 patients had manifest osteoporosis, 20 osteopenia and 13 had normal bone density. Furthermore, 48% of the patients between 50 and 60 years old had manifest osteoporosis. Unrecognised vertebral fractures were found in 21 patients. Forty-three percent of patients with manifest osteoporosis had low 25-OH-vitamine D levels (< 30 nmol/l). Eleven patients were sent to the Department of Internal Medicine on indication of secondary osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: The FO outpatient clinic proved to be effective and useful for identifying and treating a population at risk of osteoporosis.