A mini geriatric assessment helps treatment decision in elderly patients with digestive cancer. A pilot study.
Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is advocate to improved care of elderly with cancer but is not available in every hospital within a short delay. Therefore, a tool allowing gastroenterologist to detect rapidly specific abnormalities in elderly is needed.


METHODS
the aim of our pilot study was to evaluate feasibility of a mini geriatric assessment (MGA) to adapt the anticancer treatments. MGA was done by a gastroenterologist and was taken into account during the cancer multidisciplinary team meeting for making decision. Then, CGA was realised and suggested adaptation of care.


RESULTS
21 patients over 75 years treated for different digestive cancers were enrolled. The treatments recommended by the cancer multidisciplinary team meeting after the GMA were: standard treatments in 9 (41%); modified in 10 (47%) and best supportive care in 2 (12%) patients. CGA led to an adaptation of the non-oncological treatment in 15 (72%) and of the social care in 8 (38%) patients, but never modified the oncological strategy.


CONCLUSIONS
MGA could help gastroenterologists for adaptation of anticancer treatment. The characteristics of the patients that should subsequently have a geriatric follow-up remain to be defined.
Aparicio
Thomas
T
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. thomas.aparicio@avc.aphp.fr
Girard
Laurence
L
Bouarioua
Nadia
N
Patry
Claire
C
Legrain
Sylvie
S
Soulé
Jean Claude
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects