title: Geriatric assessment and care for older cancer inpatients admitted in acute care for elders unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to characterize an elderly population admitted to an Acute Care for Elders Unit (ACE) and to determine their trajectory as well as the prevalence of functional dependencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review of 186 older cancer inpatients, admitted over a period of 30 months. Demographic and oncologic data, reasons for admission, and geriatric assessment (comorbidity, dependency, medication, nutritional status, neurosensory deficits, cognition, mood, and mobility) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older cancer inpatients presented a high prevalence of disability, impaired mobility, malnutrition, and depression. Reasons for admission were mostly due to non-specific symptoms. For one-third of the patients, hospitalization led to the diagnosis of cancer. Patients already diagnosed with cancer presented advanced stage disease and progressive disease; only a few received specific care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older cancer inpatients seen in ACE present numerous geriatric problems, non-specific symptoms, and advanced disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Sainte-Marguerite, 270 Boulevard de Sainte-Marguerite, 13009 Marseilles, France. frederique.retornaz@free.fr
authors.forename: Frederique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Retornaz
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seux
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soubeyrand
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies