Study protocol of KLIMOP: a cohort study on the wellbeing of older cancer patients in Belgium and the Netherlands.
BACKGROUND
Cancer is mainly a disease of older patients. In older cancer patients, additional endpoints such as quality of survival and daily functioning might be considered equally relevant as overall or disease free survival. However, these factors have been understudied using prospective designs focussing on older cancer patients. Therefore, this study will focus on the impact of cancer, ageing, and their interaction on the long-term wellbeing of older cancer patients.


METHODS
This study is an observational cohort study. We aim to recruit 720 cancer patients above 70 years with a new diagnosis of breast, prostate, lung or gastrointestinal cancer and two control groups: one control group of 720 patients above 70 years without a previous diagnosis of cancer and one control group of 720 cancer patients between 50 - 69 years newly diagnosed with breast, prostate, lung or gastrointestinal cancer. Data collection will take place at inclusion, after six months, after one year and every subsequent year until death or end of the study. Data will be collected through personal interviews (consisting of socio-demographic information, general health information, a comprehensive geriatric assessment, quality of life, health locus of control and a loneliness scale), a handgrip test, assessment of medical records, two buccal swabs and a blood sample from cancer patients (at baseline). As an annex study, caregivers of the participants will be recruited as well. Data collection for caregivers will consist of a self-administered questionnaire examining depression, coping, and burden.


CONCLUSIONS
This extensive data collection will increase insight on how wellbeing of older cancer patients is affected by cancer (diagnosis and treatment), ageing, and their interaction. Results may provide new insights, which might contribute to the improvement of care for older cancer patients.
Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Laura.deckx@med.kuleuven.be
Laura
L
Deckx
Doris
D
van Abbema
Katherine
K
Nelissen
Liesbeth
L
Daniels
Piet
P
Stinissen
Paul
P
Bulens
Loes
L
Linsen
Jean-Luc
JL
Rummens
Geert
G
Robaeys
Eric T
ET
de Jonge
Bert
B
Houben
Karin
K
Pat
Daan
D
Walgraeve
Luc
L
Spaas
Jolanda
J
Verheezen
Thessa
T
Verniest
Alexander
A
Goegebuer
Hans
H
Wildiers
Franchette
F
van den Berkmortel
Vivianne C
VC
Tjan-Heijnen
Frank
F
Buntinx
Marjan
M
van den Akker
D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies