The comprehensive geriatric assessment in oncology: promises, pitfalls, and practicalities.
Cancer commonly occurs in elderly patients. Treatment of cancer in this population is complex as the physiologic changes of aging impact treatment decisions, tolerance, and outcomes. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is an objective means of assessing the global health of older patients, and evidence suggesting its promise as an aid to both decision making and outcome prediction in the oncology setting is growing. This article describes key studies that highlight the merits and limitations of the CGA for the evaluation of older patients with cancer. We also discuss the practical problems of its application, which may ultimately define the feasibility of its adoption into routine clinical practice.
Horgan
Anne M
AM
Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Knox
Jennifer J
JJ
Alibhai
Shabbir M H
SM
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition; D015897:Comorbidity; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors