Functioning of older, long-term cancer survivors: the role of cancer and comorbidities.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relative effect of comorbidities, noncancer symptoms, and cancer-related factors on the functioning of older adult long-term survivors of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers.


METHODS
Data from in-person interviews with survivors of a tumor registry-based stratified random sample were used to test a multivariate model using ordinary least-squares regression.


METHODS
Survivors were identified in the tumor registry of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.


METHODS
Three hundred twenty-one older (>or=60), long-term (>or=5 years) cancer survivors.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure, functional difficulty, was measured using Nagi's Performance Limitations Index. Predictors included a number of indicators of survivors' personal characteristics, age-related health characteristics, and cancer-related characteristics.


RESULTS
The model explained 44% of the variance in functional difficulties between the cancer survivors in this sample. The strongest predictors were symptoms not attributed to cancer (beta=0.28) and comorbidities (beta=0.22), although cancer-related factors explained an additional 8% of the variance over that explained by demographic and noncancer health factors, with current cancer-related symptoms being a significant predictor (beta=0.14).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate the importance of monitoring cancer-related characteristics along with comorbidities and noncancer symptoms in long-term survivors because they jointly affect overall physical functioning. Special attention needs to be given to women and minority cancer survivors as well.
Deimling
Gary T
GT
Department of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. gtd@cwru.edu
Arendt
Jacquelyn A
JA
Kypriotakis
George
G
Bowman
Karen F
KF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors