Activity of daily living problems in older cancer survivors: a population-based controlled study.
The ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) is a crucial factor for independent functioning and living at home. This population-based cross-sectional study examines ADL problems in older cancer survivors compared with an age-matched cancer-free control group. According to both The Cancer Registry of Norway and self-report, 911 individuals > or =70 years had invasive cancer among the participants of The Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County (HUNT-2) 1995-7. Three age- and gender-matched cancer-free controls for each cancer survivor were drawn from HUNT-2 (N = 2733). Personal- and Instrumental-ADL (P-ADL and I-ADL) problems were self-rated. P-ADL problems addressed activities such as personal hygiene, dressing and eating, while I-ADL problems concerned household activities, managing finances, shopping and administration of medication. Associations among relevant independent variables and P- and I-ADL problems were examined with both descriptive and multivariate statistics. P-ADL problems were present in 10% of the cancer survivors and 8% of the controls (P = 0.02). Correspondingly, 38% of the cancer survivors had I-ADL problems versus 32% of the controls (P < 0.001). Older cancer survivors with co-morbidity showed significantly higher rates of P-ADL and I-ADL problems compared with controls with co-morbidity (14% versus 9%, P = 0.01, and 47% versus 39%, P = 0.02). Cancer survivors with co-morbidity had significantly more P-ADL and I-ADL problems than survivors without co-morbidity (14% versus 8%, P = 0.01 and 47% versus 32%, P < 0.001). This study showed higher incidence of ADL problems among a population of older cancer survivors compared with cancer-free controls. Somatic co-morbidity further increased the prevalence of both P- and I-ADL problems in the cancer survivors. Primary healthcare providers should pay attention to and assess ADL problems in older cancer survivors.
Grov
Ellen Karine
EK
Department of Clinical Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway. ellen.karine.grov@hibu.no
Fosså
Sophie D
SD
Dahl
Alv A
AA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001007:Anxiety; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017741:Survivors