Are frailty markers useful for predicting treatment toxicity and mortality in older newly diagnosed cancer patients? Results from a prospective pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The concept of frailty may be useful to characterize vulnerability. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the association between frailty/functional status and treatment toxicity at 3 months and mortality at 6 months.


METHODS
Patients aged ≥65 years referred to the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, with a new cancer diagnosis. Seven frailty markers and 4 functional status measures were examined. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between frailty/functional status and toxicity, and Cox models for time to death.


RESULTS
112 participated, median age 74.1, 31 had toxicity and 15 died. At baseline, 88% had ≥1 frailty marker. Low grip strength predicted toxicity (OR 8.47, 95%CI: 1.3-53.6), ECOG performance status and ADL disability predicted time to death.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority had ≥1 frailty marker. Low grip strength predicted toxicity, none of the functional measures did. Further researcher investigating the usefulness of frailty markers is needed.
Puts
Martine T E
MT
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. martine.puts@utoronto.ca
Monette
Johanne
J
Girre
Veronique
V
Pepe
Carmela
C
Monette
Michele
M
Assouline
Sarit
S
Panasci
Lawrence
L
Basik
Mark
M
Miller
Wilson H
WH
Batist
Gerald
G
Wolfson
Christina
C
Bergman
Howard
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents