Expanding the Scope of Geriatric Assessment for the Management of Cancer in Older Adults

Mené aux Etats-Unis sur 541 patients âgés de plus de 70 ans et atteints d'un cancer (âge moyen : 76,6 ans) et sur 414 aidants, cet essai randomisé évalue l'intérêt, pour améliorer la communication entre le patient et son oncologue au sujet des problèmes liés à l'âge, d'un outil d'aide à la prise en charge gériatrique

Résumé en anglais

Cancer is a disease of older adults, with approximately 50% of cancer cases and 70% of cancer-related deaths occurring in individuals older than 65 years. Older adults are also the fastest-growing portion of the general population worldwide, which suggests that the incidence of cancer in this age group will continue to increase. Managing cancer in older adults poses a significant challenge to oncologists and health care systems because they represent a very heterogeneous population with organ-specific physiological changes and a diverse burden of functional impairments, comorbidities, polypharmacy, geriatric syndromes, and cognitive, nutritional, and psychological issues. All these factors may increase the risk of adverse events from anticancer treatments and complicate decision-making. In addition, the basis of evidence to guide the management of cancer in this group is limited, as therapeutic trials tend to enroll a very select population of patients.