A comparative study of comprehensive geriatric assessment in elder patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma / 中华内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To measure the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in elder non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) patients in a cross-sectional study;to compare the differences between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-performance status (PS) and CGA.Methods CGA stratification included the following 3 instrument assessmentsactivity of daily living (ADL);instrumental activity of daily living (IADL);comorbidity score according to the modified cumulative illness rating score for geriatrics (MCIRS-G).According to CGA and age,NHL patients,aged ≥60 years,were classified as "fit","unfit" and "frail" groups.ECOG-PS was evaluated and compared with CGA.Results According to CGA,51.6％ senior NHL patients (33 cases) were classified as "fit",12.5％(8 cases) as " unfit" and 35.9％ (23 cases) as "frail".Several comorbidities were observed in majority patients,such as cardiovascular disease,diabetes nellitus and hypertension.In the "younger aged" patients between 60 to 64ys,25％(3/12) was considered as "frail".However,this proportion increased to 42.9％ (6/14) in patients older than 80ys.Moreover,impaired CGA was observed in 38.9％(21/54) of ECOG-PS ≤1 patient.Conclusions Impaired CGA is as common as approximately half in elderly NHL patients and more than one third even in ECOG-PS ≤ 1 patients.ECOG-PS may underestimate the impaired fitness function in elder NHL patients.