The relationship of self-rated health with functional status, toxicity and mortality: results of a prospective pilot study of older patients with newly-diagnosed cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and functional status, comorbidity, toxicity of treatment and mortality in older patients with newly-diagnosed cancer.


METHODS
Patients aged 65 and over, newly diagnosed were recruited at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. SRH and functional status [instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), basic activities of daily living (ADL), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), frailty markers and number of comorbid conditions] were evaluated prior to the start of treatment, and at 3, 6 and 12 months (SRH only). Treatment toxicity and mortality data were abstracted from the chart. Logistic regression was also used to examine the relationship between functional status, comorbidity and SRH at baseline. Logistic and Cox regression were used to examine the association between baseline SRH and treatment toxicity/time to death.


RESULTS
There were 112 participants enrolled on this study (median age 74.1). At baseline, 74 patients (66.1%) had a good SRH and 38 patients (33.9%) had poor SRH. Only an increasing number of comorbid conditions was associated with poor SRH at baseline in both univariate and multivariable analysis. We found no association between SRH and toxicity or mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial proportion had poor SRH prior to and during cancer treatment. An increasing number of comorbidities was associated with poor SRH at baseline. SRH did not predict toxicity or mortality. Attention to comorbid conditions in older patients with cancer is warranted considering their impact on SRH in this population.
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address: martine.puts@utoronto.ca.
Martine
M
Puts
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Johanne
J
Monette
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Departemental, La Roche sur Yon, France.
Veronique
V
Girre
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Nadia
N
Sourial
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
Christina
C
Wolfson
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Michele
M
Monette
Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Gerald
G
Batist
Solidage Research Group on Frailty and Aging, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Howard
H
Bergman
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report
Cancer; Comorbidity; Frail elderly; Functional status; Geriatric oncology; Oncology; Prospective study; Self-rated health