title: Effect of age on hemoglobin levels and quality of life following treatment with epoetin alfa in cancer patients.
abstract: A subgroup analysis comparing elderly (age > or =70 years; n=95) with younger (age <70 years; n=390) patients was performed on data from a prospective, multicenter, open-label study assessing the effects of once-weekly epoetin alfa 40,000 International Units (IU) for 16-20 weeks on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and quality of life (QoL) in anemic adult patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors. There were significant increases in mean Hb levels at 4, 8, 12, 16-20 weeks in both age groups (p<0.0001), but no significant differences between groups (p=0.7). No significant difference was observed in terms of blood transfusion rates across the study between elderly and younger patients (3.2% vs 6.7%, p=0.2). Although QoL was lower in elderly patients at baseline, the relative percentage increases in QoL scores during treatment were similar for both age groups. Thus, once-weekly epoetin alfa was equally effective in treating chemotherapy-related anemia in elderly and younger adult patients, with similar tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. puglisi.fabio@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deroma
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cartenì
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sporchia
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ucci
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Signoribus
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchione
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beccaglia
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa