Predictive role of Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 screen tool for elder cancer patients in final oncology treatment plan.

Abstract

e24020 Background: The Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) is one of several tools that can identify older patients who are vulnerable (if the score is ≥ 3 out of 10) and more likely to benefit from Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) prior to cancer treatment. The optimal cutpoint of the VES-13 to identify those whose final oncologic treatment plan would change after CGA is unclear. We hypothesized that patients with high positive scores (7-10) will have a higher likelihood of a change in the final oncologic treatment plan compared to low positive patients (score 3-6). Methods: Retrospective review of a customized database of all patients seen for pre-treatment assessment (solid tumor and lymphoma) in the geriatric oncology clinic at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre from June 2015 to June 2019. Various VES-13 score cutpoints were compared with the final treatment plan to identify those individuals whose treatment was modified after CGA. Area under the curve was calculated and subgroups of patients treated locally or systemically were also examined to determine if performance varied by type of patient. Results: 386 patients with mean age 81, 58% males were included. Gastrointestinal cancer was the most common site 31% and 60% were planned to receive curative treatment. The final treatment plan was modified in 50% with VES-13 scores 7-10, 46.7% with scores 3-6 and 26.8 % for scores < 3 (P = 0.002; Table). The optimal VES-13 cutoff was between 3-6 (C-statistics 0.57-0.59).The VES-13 performed similarly in those considering local treatment (surgery with/without radiation) vs. chemotherapy. Modified final treatment for local therapy with VES-13 scores < 3 was 11.4 % compared to 42.9% with scores ≥ 3 was 42.9% (p-value < 0.001), whereas for systemic therapy it was 32.4% and 62.5%, respectively (p-value = 0.002). Conclusions: Although high positive VES-13 scores (7-10) had slightly higher likelihood of having the final oncologic treatment plan modified, there was no strong advantage compared to the conventional cutpoint of 3 or higher. The VES-13 performed similarly in predicting treatment change after CGA for local and systemic treatment plans. Further studies are required to identify the optimal frailty screening tool and cutpoint. [Table: see text]