Abstract
17554 Background: Recent studies demonstrated worse outcome in elderly patients diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL). The purpose of this study was to compare the presenting features, treatment, and outcome of elderly patients with HL within the Veteran Affairs Health care system (VA). Methods: This was a retrospective analysis. The VA Central Cancer Registry (VACCR) database was used to identify patients with HL diagnosed between 1995 and 2005. There are approximately 120 VA medical centers diagnosing and/or treating patients with cancer. Data are entered by tumor registrars at the VA medical centers. This site aggregates the data collected by the medical centers’ cancer registries. Data was extrapolated and analyzed using bio-statistical software SPSS. Results: We analyzed 1009 patients in the Veteran Affairs (VA) database with the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Patients were divided into two groups according to age, elderly group (> 60 years) (n = 383) and young group (Age ≤ 60 years) (n = 626). The median age of presentation in elderly patients was 70 years; the most common stage at diagnosis was Stage IV. The most common histological subtype was nodular sclerosis and bulky disease was present in 89 (23.2%) of patients. Out of 383 patients 237 (62%) were treated with chemotherapy, 88 patients (23%) received radiation. Compared to patients ≤ 60 years of age, elderly patients were less likely to be current smokers, more likely to be caucasian, all other baseline characteristics were not statistically significantly different. Less elderly patients received chemotherapy compared to young patients (62% versus 74%) (P-value 0.004). No difference was observed in radiation therapy. The 5 year Overall survival in the elderly was 27 % compared to 70% in patients aged 60 or less. (P-value <0.005). Conclusions: Outcome of HL among elderly veterans is poor. Elderly patients received less chemotherapy treatment. Novel strategies to better deliver treatment in elderly patients with HL are warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
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