Geriatric assessment for the practicing clinician: The why, what, and how.

Older adults with cancer heterogeneously experience health care, treatment, and symptoms. Geriatric assessment (GA) offers a comprehensive evaluation of an older individual's health status and can predict cancer-related outcomes in individuals with solid tumors and those with hematologic malignancies. In the last decade, randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the benefits of GA and GA management (GAM), which uses GA information to provide tailored intervention strategies to address GA impairments (e.g., implementing physical therapy for impaired physical function). Multiple phase 3 clinical trials in older adults with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies have demonstrated that GAM improves treatment completion, quality of life, communication, and advance care planning while reducing treatment-related toxicity, falls, and polypharmacy. Nonetheless, implementation and uptake of GAM remain challenging. Various strategies have been proposed, including the use of GA screening tools, to identify patients most likely to benefit from GAM, the systematic engagement of the oncology workforce in the delivery of GAM, and the integration of technologies like telemedicine and mobile health to enhance the availability of GA and GAM interventions. Health inequities in minoritized groups persist, and systematic GA implementation has the potential to capture social determinants of health that are relevant to equitable care. Caregivers play an important role in cancer care and experience burden themselves. GA can guide dyadic supportive care interventions, ultimately helping both patients and caregivers achieve optimal health.

Cancer survivorship challenges of rural older adults: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Although research has advanced the field of oncologic geriatrics with survivors to assess their cancer-related needs and devise patient-centered interventions, most of that research has excluded rural populations. This study aimed to understand the survivorship challenges and recommendations in the perspective of rural older adults. METHODS: This was a qualitative study that explored the survivorship challenges and recommendations of rural older adults who have completed curative intent chemotherapy for a solid tumor malignancy in the 12 months prior to enrollment in the present study. RESULTS: Twenty-seven older adult survivors from rural areas completed open-ended semi-structured interviews. The mean age was 73.4 (SD = 5.0). Most participants were non-Hispanic White (96.3%), female (59.3%), married (63.0%), and had up to a high school education (51.9%). Rural older survivors reported a general lack of awareness of survivorship care plans, communication challenges with healthcare team, transportation challenges, financial toxicity, psychological challenges, and diet and physical challenges. Rural older survivors recommend the provision of nutritional advice referral to exercise programs, and social support groups and for their healthcare providers to discuss their survivorship plan with them. CONCLUSIONS: Although study participants reported similar survivorship challenges as urban older adult survivors, additional challenges reported regarding transportation and consideration of farm animals have not been previously reported. Heightened awareness of the survivorship needs of rural older adults may result in better survivorship care for this population.

Associations of sleep disturbance with physical function and cognition in older adults with cancer.

PURPOSE: Although sleep disturbances are common in older adults, studies evaluating the prevalence of sleep disturbance and its influence on functional outcomes in older adults with cancer are few. In this study, we examined the prevalence of sleep disturbance and its association with physical function and cognition in older adults with cancer. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of patients who were referred and evaluated in the Specialized Oncology Care & Research in the Elderly (SOCARE) clinics at the Universities of Rochester and Chicago from May 2011 to October 2015. All patients underwent a geriatric assessment (GA) as part of their routine evaluation. Our final study cohort included patients who completed a sleep assessment and consented to the study. We collected demographics (age, sex, race, marital status, and education level) and clinical characteristics (depression, comorbidity, cancer type, and stage) from the GA and medical chart reviews. Presence of sleep disturbance was self-reported (yes/no). Physical function was assessed using Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), physical activity (PA) survey, falls in the preceding 6 months, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Cognition was screened using the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (impairment >4) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (impairment <26). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the associations between sleep disturbance with functional outcomes and cognition. RESULTS: We included 389 older patients. The prevalence of sleep disturbance was 40%. Sixty-eight percent had ≥1 IADL impairment, 76% had PA limitation, 37% had ≥1 fall, 70% had impairment on SPPB, and 47% screened positive for cognitive impairment. On bivariate analyses, sleep disturbance was associated with IADL impairment (odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-3.13, P = 0.005), and PA limitation (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.38-4.28, P = 0.002). The associations remained significant on multivariable analyses. Sleep disturbance was not significantly associated with falls, impairment on SPPB, and performance on the cognitive screen. CONCLUSION: Sleep disturbance was associated with IADL impairment and PA limitation. It is important for oncologists to inquire about sleep problems, and these patients should also be screened for functional impairment if sleep disturbance was present.

Barriers to participation in clinical trials of rural older adult cancer survivors: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Currently, 64% of cancer survivors are aged 65+. Older cancer survivors have unique complications after chemotherapy and are often excluded from cancer clinical trials. Although there is research on barriers to clinical trial participation of older adult cancer survivors, to date no research has explored barriers to clinical trial participation unique to rural older adult cancer survivors. METHODS: This study is a secondary qualitative analysis from a study exploring survivorship challenges of rural older adults. Eligible participants were rural residents over age 65 who have completed curative-intent chemotherapy in the past 12 months. Participants (n = 27) completed open-ended semi-structured interviews that included questions on barriers to clinical trial participation. Transcripts were coded independently by two coders using thematic analysis. We have adhered to the standards for reporting qualitative research. FINDINGS: Participants reported a variety of barriers that included limited knowledge and fear about clinical trials, transportation challenges, their physicians not informing them of clinical trials, and thinking they are too old to participate in clinical trials. However, participants also reported facilitators to participating in clinical trials, including acknowledging benefits to their own health and society, and understanding the importance of clinical trials. CONCLUSION: Rural older cancer survivors face numerous interpersonal, intrapersonal, and organizational barriers to clinical trial participation. Aging- and location-sensitive interventions that focus on patients, their caregivers, and health care providers may lead to improved participation of rural older adult survivors into clinical trials.

The role of self-perceived age in older adults considering adjuvant chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Aging-related concerns can increase the risk of treatment toxicities among older adults considering adjuvant chemotherapy. We previously demonstrated that older adults with cancer who reported feeling older than their chronological age (i.e., self-perceived age) were more likely to have aging-related concerns identified during a geriatric assessment. We explored how decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy vary with or are related to older adults' self-perceived age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a multi-phased feasibility pilot using semi-structured interviews that were conducted to explore the patient decision-making process for adjuvant chemotherapy. Interviews incorporated questions about chronological and perceived age as factors for decision-making. Patient eligibility for the study included (1) age ≥ 70 years and older, (2) a diagnosis of breast, colon, or lung cancer and considering adjuvant chemotherapy, and (3) able to read size 18 font in English. Interview data were analyzed using constant comparative method. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were enrolled. The mean chronological age was 78 years (range 71-91). The average perceived age of patients was 57 years (range 21-80). Eleven patients chose to receive treatment while ten patients did not. Aging-related themes illustrated that self-perceived age plays an important role when patients make decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy. More specifically, patients who reported their self-perceived age as younger than their chronological age also reported better perceived health status and chose to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Patients' experiences of aging and self-perceived age may have different implications for decision-making.

Older adults with cancer and their caregivers - current landscape and future directions for clinical care.

Despite substantial improvements in the outcomes of patients with cancer over the past two decades, older adults (aged ≥65 years) with cancer are a rapidly increasing population and continue to have worse outcomes than their younger counterparts. Managing cancer in this population can be challenging because of competing health and ageing-related conditions that can influence treatment decision-making and affect outcomes. Geriatric screening tools and comprehensive geriatric assessment can help to identify patients who are most at risk of poor outcomes from cancer treatment and to better allocate treatment for these patients. The use of evidence-based management strategies to optimize geriatric conditions can improve communication and satisfaction between physicians, patients and caregivers as well as clinical outcomes in this population. Clinical trials are currently underway to further determine the effect of geriatric assessment combined with management interventions on cancer outcomes as well as the predictive value of geriatric assessment in the context of treatment with contemporary systemic therapies such as immunotherapies and targeted therapies. In this Review, we summarize the unique challenges of treating older adults with cancer and describe the current guidelines as well as investigational studies underway to improve the outcomes of these patients.

Relationships of self-perceived age with geriatric assessment domains in older adults with cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Older self-perceived age is associated with poor health and higher healthcare utilization in the geriatric population. We evaluated the associations of self-perceived age with geriatric assessment (GA) domain impairments in older adults with cancer. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a GA cluster-randomized trial (URCC 13070; PI: Mohile). We included patients aged ≥70 with incurable stage III/IV solid tumor or lymphoma considering or receiving treatment and had ≥1 GA domain impairment other than polypharmacy. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the associations of age difference between chronological and self-perceived age (categorized into "feeling younger than chronological age" vs. "feeling the same or older than their chronological age") with GA domain impairments. RESULTS: We included 533 patients; mean age was 76.6 (SD 5.2). On multivariate analyses, compared to those who felt younger than their chronological age, those who felt the same or older were more likely to have impairments in physical performance [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 5.42, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.69-17.40)], functional status (AOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.73-3.07), comorbidity (AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.20-2.19), psychological health (AOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.85-3.73), and nutrition (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.20-2.28). They were also more likely to screen positively for polypharmacy (AOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.30-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with cancer who felt the same or older than their chronological age were more likely to have GA domain impairments. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationships between self-perceived age, aging-related conditions, and outcomes in this population.

Association Between Symptom Burden and Physical Function in Older Patients with Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the independent association between symptom burden and physical function impairment in older adults with cancer. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Two university-based geriatric oncology clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with cancer aged 65 years or older who underwent evaluation with geriatric assessment (GA). MEASUREMENTS: Symptom burden was measured as a summary score of severity ratings (range = 0-10) of 10 commonly reported symptoms using a Clinical Symptom Inventory (CSI). Functional impairment was defined as the presence of one or more impairments of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), any significant physical activity limitation on the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS), one or more recent falls in the previous 6 months, or a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of 9 or less. Multivariate analysis evaluated the association between symptom burden and physical function impairment, adjusting for other clinical and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2015, 359 patients with cancer and a median age of 81 years (range = 65-95 y) consented. The mean CSI score was 23.2 ± 20.5 with an observed range of 0 to 90. Patients in the highest quartile of symptom burden (N = 91; CSI score 52 ± 13) had a higher prevalence of IADL impairment (91% vs 51%), physical activity limitation (93% vs 65%), falls (55% vs 21%), and SPPB score of 9 or less (92% vs 69%) (all P values <.01) when compared with those in the bottom quartile (N = 81; CSI score: 2 ± 2). With each unit increase in CSI score, the odds of having IADL impairment, physical activity limitations, falls, and SPPB scores of 9 or less increased by 4.8%, 4.4%, 2.9%, and 2.5%, respectively (P < .05 for all results). CONCLUSIONS: In older patients with cancer, higher symptom burden is associated with functional impairment. Future studies are warranted to evaluate if improved symptom management can improve function in older cancer patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:998-1004, 2019.

Elucidating the associations between sleep disturbance and depression, fatigue, and pain in older adults with cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbance is prevalent and often coexists with depression, fatigue, and pain in the cancer population. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of sleep disturbance with co-existing depression, fatigue, and pain in older patients with cancer. We also examined the associations of several socio-demographic and clinical variables with sleep disturbance. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 389 older patients with solid and hematologic malignancies who were referred to the Specialized Oncology Care & Research in the Elderly (SOCARE) clinics at the Universities of Rochester and Chicago between May 2011 and October 2015 and completed a sleep and geriatric assessment (that inquires about fatigue, pain, and depression). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with sleep disturbance. RESULTS: The prevalence of sleep disturbance was 40%. Of those with sleep disturbance (n = 154), 84% also had at least one of the other three symptoms (25% had one symptom, 38% had two symptoms, and 21% had three symptoms). Sleep disturbance was more likely to be reported in those with comorbidities (45% vs. 28%, P = 0.002), depression (49% vs. 36%, P = 0.015), fatigue (49% vs. 23%, P < 0.001), and pain (45% vs. 31%, P = 0.010). On multivariable analysis, only fatigue (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.90, 95% CI 1.10-3.30, P = 0.020) was independently associated with sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance is prevalent and often co-occurs with depression, fatigue, or pain in older patients with cancer. Fatigue was significantly associated with sleep disturbance and future studies should explore interventions that target sleep disturbance and fatigue.