Geriatric Assessment and Functional Decline in Older Patients with Lung Cancer

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Oncology
• Clinical Geriatrics
• Thoracic Oncology

Background:

• Older adults with lung cancer represent a complex and heterogeneous group for treatment planning.
• Geriatric assessment (GA) and functional status (FS) are crucial for managing this population.
• Understanding predictors of functional decline and overall survival (OS) is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of geriatric assessment (GA) in older lung cancer patients.
• To analyze the changes in functional status (FS) over time.
• To identify factors predicting functional decline and overall survival (OS).

Main Methods:

• Geriatric assessment (GA) was performed at baseline in patients aged 70 years and older with newly diagnosed lung cancer.
• Functional status (FS), measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), was reassessed.
• Predictors for functional decline and OS were identified using multivariable analysis.

Main Results:

• Two hundred forty-five patients were included; baseline GA deficiencies were widespread.
• At baseline, 51% had impaired ADL and 63% had impaired IADL.
• Functional decline occurred in 23% (ADL) and 45% (IADL) during follow-up; radiotherapy predicted ADL decline.

Conclusions:

• Older lung cancer patients exhibit significant geriatric deficits across all domains.
• Nearly half of patients experience functional decline during treatment.
• Specific GA domains did not predict decline or survival, suggesting tumor aggressiveness impacts prognosis more heavily.