The Impact of Frailty Screening on Radiation Treatment Modification

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Oncology
• Radiotherapy Decision Making
• Patient Screening

Background:

• Comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) are challenging in oncology due to care burden.
• Investigating the utility of screening tools to modify radiotherapy in oncogeriatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze if modified screening tools can impact radiotherapy decisions in elderly cancer patients.
• To assess the efficiency of the G8 frailty screening test in oncogeriatric care.

Main Methods:

• 161 patients aged ≥ 65 years undergoing radiotherapy were assessed using G8 and Charlson questionnaires.
• Patients were stratified into frail (G8 ≤ 14) or robust (G8 > 14) groups.
• Charlson index cutoff was set at five for estimated survival.

Main Results:

• 28.7% of patients were identified as frail by the G8 test.
• Radiotherapy treatment plans were modified in 21% of patients post-frailty analysis.
• Frail patients (G8) were 5.8 times more likely to have treatment modifications.

Conclusions:

• While CGAs are optimal, the G8 frailty screening test is a reliable and efficient aid for rapid decision-making in oncogeriatrics.
• The G8 test facilitates easier integration into patient consultations for improved oncogeriatric care.