Usefulness of frailty markers in the assessment of the health and functional status of older cancer patients referred for chemotherapy: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Older cancer patients seen in an oncology clinic seem to be healthier and less disabled than traditional geriatric patients. Choosing the most sensitive tools to assess their health status is a major issue. This cross-sectional study explores the usefulness of frailty markers in detecting vulnerability in older cancer patients.


METHODS
The study included cancer patients >or=70 years old referred to an oncology clinic for chemotherapy. Information on comorbidities, disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and activities of daily living (ADL), and seven frailty markers (nutrition, mobility, strength, energy, physical activity, mood, and cognition) was collected. Patients were classified into four hierarchical groups: 1- No frailty markers, IADL, or ADL disability; 2- Presence of frailty markers without IADL or ADL disability; 3- IADL disability without ADL disability; 4- ADL disability.


RESULTS
Among the 50 patients assessed, 6 (12.0%) were classified into Group 1, 21 (42.0%) into Group 2, 15 (30.0%) into Group 3, and 8 (16.0%) into Group 4. In Group 2, 7 patients (33.3 %) had one frailty marker, and 14 (66.7%) had two or more. The most prevalent of the frailty markers were nutrition, mobility, and physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of seven frailty markers allowed the detection of potential vulnerability among 42% of older cancer patients that would not have been detected through an assessment of IADL and ADL disability alone. A longitudinal study is needed to determine whether the use of frailty markers can better characterize the older cancer population and predict adverse outcomes due to cancer treatment.
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Frederique
F
Retornaz
Johanne
J
Monette
Gerald
G
Batist
Michèle
M
Monette
Nadia
N
Sourial
David
D
Small
Stephen
S
Caplan
Doreen
D
Wan-Chow-Wah
Martine T E
MT
Puts
Howard
H
Bergman
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation