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Functional limitations in elderly female cancer survivors
Carol Sweeney1, Kathryn H Schmitz, DeAnn Lazovich
1Health Research Center, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. csweeney@hrc.utah.edu
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|April 20, 2006
Summary
Elderly cancer survivors, especially those with long-term survival, experience more functional limitations. Interventions are needed to help them maintain physical function.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The aging global population includes a growing number of long-term cancer survivors.
- Quality of life, particularly physical function, in elderly cancer survivors is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between long-term cancer survivorship and functional limitations in elderly women.
- To identify specific physical functional deficits experienced by older cancer survivors.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study followed 25,719 women (median age 72) from 1986 to 1997.
- Logistic and proportional hazards regression models were used to assess functional limitations in cancer survivors versus non-survivors.
- Analyses adjusted for baseline characteristics such as obesity, smoking, and diabetes.
Main Results:
- Long-term cancer survivors (≥5 years) were more likely to report inability to perform heavy household work (OR=1.47, PR=1.22), walk a half mile (OR=1.31, PR=1.16), or climb stairs (OR=1.34, PR=1.25).
- Women diagnosed with cancer less than 2 years prior reported the highest levels of functional limitations.
- Increased functional limitations were observed in survivors of breast cancer and other specific cancer types.
Conclusions:
- Elderly cancer survivors, particularly long-term survivors, exhibit a higher prevalence of functional limitations.
- Targeted interventions are recommended to help elderly cancer survivors maintain or improve their physical function.
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