title: Validation of the G8 screening tool in older patients with aggressive haematological malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence rates of haematological malignancies increase with age. In these older cancer patients, important information may be missed without a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). A validated screening instrument is needed to identify those patients for whom a CGA would be beneficial. The G8 has recently been validated as a screening tool for older cancer patients in need of a CGA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the performance of the G8 screening tool in older patients with aggressive haematological malignancies to identify those who would benefit from a CGA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of patients ≥70 years with a recently diagnosed haematological malignancy. G8, CGA (including six questionnaires) and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) were completed in each patient. The CGA was considered abnormal when at least one questionnaire showed an impaired score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients with median age of 76 years were included; 88% (N = 44) had an abnormal CGA. ROC curve analyses revealed a G8 score ≤14 obtained a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI 75-96) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI 54-100), suggesting an optimal cut-off point. AUC ± SE was 0.949 ± 0.030. Inclusion of comorbidity in the CGA did not change the performance of the G8 (0.943 ± 0.034; P = 0.895).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The G8 can be used as a valid screening tool in older patients with aggressive haematological malignancies to identify those patients who would benefit from a CGA. Comorbidity should be assessed routinely and independently of the G8.
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Anja.velghe@uzgent.be.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Velghe
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Mirko.petrovic@ugent.be.
authors: Mirko
authors: M
authors: Petrovic
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Stefanie.debuyser@ugent.be.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: De Buyser
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Rein.demuynck@uzgent.be.
authors: Rein
authors: R
authors: Demuynck
authors: Department of Haematology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Lucien.noens@ugent.be.
authors: Lucien
authors: L
authors: Noens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Aggressive haematological malignancy; CIRS-G; Comprehensive geriatric assessment; G8 screening tool; Older cancer patient; Validation