title: The impact of an ostomy on older colorectal cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ostomies are being placed in 35 % of patients after colorectal cancer surgery. As decision-making regarding colorectal surgery is challenging in the older patients, it is important to have insight in the potential impact due to ostomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  An internet-based survey was sent to all members with registered email addresses of the Dutch Ostomy Patient Association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 49 %; 932 cases were included of whom 526 were aged <70 years old ("younger respondents"), 301 were aged between 70 and 79 years old ("the elderly"), and 105 were aged ≥80 years old ("oldest old"). Ostomy-related limitations were similar in the different age groups, just as uncertainty (8-10 %) and dependency (18-22 %) due to the ostomy. A reduced quality of life was experienced least in the oldest old group (24 % vs 37 % of the elderly and 46 % of the younger respondents, p < 0.001). Over time, a decrease of limitations and impact due to the ostomy was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older ostomates do not experience more limitations or psychosocial impact due to the ostomy compared to their younger counterparts. Over the years, impact becomes less distinct. Treatment decision-making is challenging in the older colorectal cancer patients but ostomy placement should not be withheld based on age alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine/Department of Surgery, Diakonessenhuis, Bosboomstraat 1, 3582KE, Utrecht, The Netherlands. nverweij@diakhuis.nl.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Verweij
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hamaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D D E
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haga Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Bos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pronk
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Borel Rinkes
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A H W
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schiphorst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010030:Ostomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Care-dependence; Colorectal cancer; Geriatrics; Ileostomy; Ostomy