title: Quality of life in very elderly radiotherapy patients: a prospective pilot study using the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 module.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In very elderly cancer patients, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a particularly important issue but has rarely been studied due to a lack of specific instruments and of reference data. We performed a prospective analysis of HRQOL in patients ≥80 years undergoing radiotherapy with the newly validated elderly-specific HRQOL module EORTC QLQ-ELD14.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively assessed HRQOL in n = 50 radiotherapy patients ≥80 years (32% lung, 20% gastrointestinal, 8% each of breast, head and neck, gynecologic cancer) at the start (t1), end (t2), and 6 months after (t3) radiotherapy, using EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-ELD14. Overall survival was determined in the whole cohort and subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median overall survival from the start of radiotherapy was 15 months; 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 57.1 and 31.0%, respectively. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status <2, Charlson comorbidity index ≤6, curative treatment intention, local tumor stage Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC I, II), and total dose >45 Gy were associated with prolonged survival. No significant changes in any HRQOL domain were observed during the course of treatment (t1 to t2). Six months after radiotherapy (t3), a significant and clinically relevant deterioration of HRQOL was seen in EORTC QLQ-C30 for physical function and role function and in EORTC QLQ-ELD14 for future worries, burden of illness, and family support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In radiotherapy patients ≥80 years, HRQOL was maintained until the end of radiotherapy but deteriorated in general and elderly-specific areas thereafter, suggesting a need to develop specific supportive interventions for this age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Dryanderstr. 4, 06110, Halle/Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostheimer
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landenberger
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vordermark
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life