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Modifiable factors affecting older patients' quality of life and physical function during cancer treatment
Lene Kirkhus1, Magnus Harneshaug1, Jūratė Šaltytė Benth2
1The Research Centre for Age Related Functional Decline and Diseases, Innlandet Hospital Trust, P.O. box 68, 2313 Ottestad, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. box 4956, Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway.
Background:
Maintaining physical function and quality of life (QoL) are prioritized outcomes among older adults. We aimed to identify potentially modifiable factors affecting older patients' physical function and QoL during cancer treatment.
Methods:
Prospective, multicenter study of 307 patients with cancer ≥70 years, referred for systemic treatment. Pre-treatment, a modified geriatric assessment (mGA) was performed, including registration of comorbidities, medications, nutritional status, cognitive function, depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15 [GDS]), and mobility (Timed Up and Go [TUG]). Patient-reported physical function (PF)-, global QoL-, and symptom scores were assessed at baseline, two, four, and six months by the EORTC Quality of Life Core Questionnaire-C30. The impact of mGA components and symptoms on patients' PF and global QoL scores during six months was investigated by linear mixed models. To identify groups following distinct PF trajectories, a growth mixture model was estimated.
Results:
288 patients were eligible, mean age was 76.9 years, 68% received palliative treatment. Higher GDS-scores and poorer TUG were independently associated with an overall level of poorer PF and global QoL throughout follow-up, as were more pain, dyspnea, and appetite loss, and sleep disturbance. Three groups with distinct PF trajectories were identified: a poor group exhibiting a non-linear statistically (p < .001) and clinically significant decline (≥10 points), an intermediate group with a statistically (p = .003), but not clinically significant linear decline, and a good group with a stable trajectory. Higher GDS-scores and poorer TUG, more pre-treatment pain and dyspnea were associated with higher odds of belonging to the poor compared to the good PF group.
Conclusion:
Depressive symptoms, reduced mobility, and more physical symptoms increased the risk of decrements in older patients' PF and global QoL scores during cancer treatment, and represent potential targets for interventions aiming at improving these outcomes.