title: Geriatric oncology: comparing health related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population ageing is increasing the number of people annually diagnosed with cancer worldwide, once most types of tumours are age-dependent. High-quality healthcare in geriatric oncology requires a multimodal approach and should take into account stratified patient outcomes based on factors other than chronological age in order to develop interventions able to optimize oncology care.This study aims to evaluate the Health Related Quality of Life in head and neck cancer patients and compare the scores in geriatric and younger patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and eighty nine head and neck cancer patients from the Oncology Portuguese Institute participated in the Health Related Quality of Life assessment. Two patient groups were considered: the geriatric (≥ 65 years old, n = 115) and the younger (45-60 years old, n= 174). The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Head and neck cancer patients were mostly males, 77.4% within geriatric group and 91.4% among younger patients group.The most frequent tumour locations were similar in both groups: larynx, oral cavity and oropharynx - base of the tongue.At the time of diagnosis, most of younger male patients were at disease stage III/IV (55.9%) whereas the majority of younger female patients were at disease stage I/II (83.4%). The geriatric patient distribution was found to be similar in any of the four disease stages and no gender differences were observed.We found that age (geriatrics scored generally worse), gender (females scored generally worse), and tumour site (larynx tumours denounce more significant problems between age groups) clearly influences Health Related Quality of Life perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geriatric oncology assessments signalize age-independent indicators that might guide oncologic geriatric care optimization. Decision-making in geriatric oncology must be based on tumour characteristics and chronological age but also on performance status evaluation, co-morbidity, and patient reported outcomes assessment.
authors.affiliation: Oral Anatomy and Oral Histology- Health Sciences Department, ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar Fernando Pessoa University Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.|Institute for Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar- Porto University, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar no. 2. 4099-003 Porto, Portugal.|The Centre of Health Studies and Research of the Coimbra University, Av. Dias da Silva, 165, 3004-512, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Augusta P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Oral Anatomy and Oral Histology- Health Sciences Department, ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar Fernando Pessoa University Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.|Math Department, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Campus do IPCA - Lugar do Aldão 4750-810 Vila Frescainha S. Martinho Barcelos, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Oral Anatomy and Oral Histology- Health Sciences Department, ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar Fernando Pessoa University Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.|Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Department, Portuguese Catholic University, Campus Viseu Estrada da Circunvalação; 3504-505, Viseu, Portugal.|Santiago de Compostela University - Facultad De Medicina Y Odontologia, Rua San Francisco, S/N, 15704, Santiago De Compostela, Espanha.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Oral Anatomy and Oral Histology- Health Sciences Department, ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar Fernando Pessoa University Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.|Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar- Porto University, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar no. 2. 4099-003 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS/UP - Institute for the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar Fernando Pessoa University, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.|Portuguese Institute for Oncology - Porto, Otorhinolaringology service (IPO-Porto, ORL), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eurico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Aveiro University, Secção Autónoma Ciências da Saúde; Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.|Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro Av. Artur Ravara, 3814-501, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Francisco L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life