title: Assessing competing risks in treating the elderly.
abstract: For elderly patients, risks associated with a newly diagnosed disease may be less than competing risks of death and disability from other causes. Treatment benefits should be viewed in the context of normal life expectancy and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Veteran Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vt., USA.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Albertsen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wasson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors