Health Status Of Older Patients Research Articles

Determinants of health status in older patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: a prospective cohort study.

Whether, and to what extent, frailty and other geriatric domains are linked to health status in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is unknown. To determine the association of frailty with health status [defined by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ)] in patients with ATTR-CA. Consecutive ATTR-CA patients undergoing cardiovascular assessment at a tertiary care clinic from September 2021 to September 2023 were invited to participate. KCCQ, frailty and social environment were recorded. Frailty was assessed using the modified Frailty Index (mFI), mapping 11 variables from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (frailty ≥0.36). Of 168 screened ATTR-CA patients, 138 [83% men, median age of 79 (75-84) years] were enrolled in the study. Median KCCQ was 66 (50-75). wtATTR-CA was the most prevalent form (N=113, 81.9%). The most frequent cardiac variant was Ile68Leu (17/25 individuals with vATTR-CA). Twenty (14.5%) patients were considered frail, and prevalence of overt disability was 6.5%. At multivariable linear regression analysis, factors associated with worsening KCCQ were age at evaluation, the mFI, NYHA Class, and NAC Score. Gender, ATTR-CA type, phenotype, and LVEF were not associated with health status. In older patients diagnosed with ATTR-CA, frailty, symptoms, and disease severity were associated with KCCQ. Functional status is a determinant of quality of life and health status in older individuals with a main diagnosis of ATTR-CA. Future research may provide more in-depth knowledge on the association of frailty in patients with ATTR-CA with respect to quality of life and prognosis.

Co-Occurrence of Sarcopenia and Frailty in Acutely Admitted Older Medical Patients: Results from the Copenhagen PROTECT Study

BackgroundSarcopenia and frailty are often used interchangeably in clinical practice yet represent two distinct conditions and require different therapeutic approaches. The literature regarding the co-occurrence of both conditions in older patients is scarce as most studies have investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty separately.ObjectivesWe aim to evaluate the prevalence and co-occurrence of sarcopenia and frailty in a large sample of acutely admitted older medical patients.DesignSecondary analyses using cross-sectional data from the Copenhagen PROTECT study.SettingPatients were included from the acute medical ward at Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark, between November 2019 and November 2021.ParticipantsAcutely admitted older medical patients (≥65 years).MeasurementsHandgrip strength (HGS) was investigated using a handheld dynamometer. Lean mass (SMI) was investigated using direct-segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyses (DSM-BIA). Low HGS, low SMI, and sarcopenia were defined according to the recent definitions from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was used to evaluate frailty, with a value > 5 indicating the presence of frailty. Patients were enrolled and tested within 24 hours of admission.ResultsThis study included 638 patients (mean age: 78.2±7.6, 55% female) with complete records of SMI, HGS, and the CFS. The prevalence of low HGS, low SMI, sarcopenia, and frailty were 39.0%, 33.1%, 19.7%, and 39.0%, respectively. Sarcopenia and frailty co-occurred in 12.1% of the patients.ConclusionsIt is well-known that sarcopenia and frailty represent clinical manifestations of ageing and overlap in terms of the impairment in physical function observed in both conditions. Our results demonstrate that sarcopenia and frailty do not necessarily co-occur within the older acutely admitted patient, highlighting the need for separate assessments of frailty and sarcopenia to ensure the accurate characterization of the health status of older patients.

Influencing factors associated with oral health among older hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke: A cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveTo investigate the oral health status of older patients with ischemic stroke and analyze the influencing factors, providing valuable insights for developing effective oral health management strategies tailored for this population. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to June 2022, selecting 350 older patients with ischemic stroke from two tertiary hospitals in Chongqing. The Barthel Index (BI), Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), and Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) were used to assess patients’ self-care ability, swallowing function, and oral health status, respectively. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, disease-related information, and oral health behaviors of the patients. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze related influencing factors. ResultsA total of 346 older patients with ischemic stroke were included, with 199 males and 147 females. The median total score of OHAT was 5 (total score range 0–16). Dental decay (91.7%, 278/303) and poor oral hygiene (92.2%, 319/346) were the main oral health problems in this population. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sex, hyperlipidemia, stroke severity, stroke events, oral health behaviors, and care dependency were influencing factors for the oral health of this population (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe study revealed that healthcare professionals should strengthen the oral health assessment of older patients with ischemic stroke and implement individualized health education and management measures based on the characteristics of high-risk groups to promote their oral health.

Effectiveness of integrating primary healthcare in aftercare for older patients after discharge from tertiary hospitals-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundQuality of aftercare can crucially impact health status of older patients and reduce the extra burden of unplanned healthcare resource utilisation. However, evidence of effectiveness of primary healthcare in supporting aftercare, especially for older patients after discharge are limited.MethodsWe searched for English articles of randomised controlled trials published between January 2000 and March 2022. All-cause hospital readmission rate and length of hospital stay were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify the relationship between intervention characteristics and the effectiveness on all-cause hospital readmission rate.ResultsA total of 30 studies with 11,693 older patients were included in the review. Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the intervention group had 32% less risk of hospital readmission within 30 days (RR = 0.68, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 0.56–0.84), and 17% within 6 months (RR = 0.83, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 0.75–0.92). According to the subgroup analysis, continuity of involvement of primary healthcare in aftercare had significant effect with hospital readmission rates (P < 0.001). Economic evaluations from included studies suggested that aftercare intervention was cost-effective due to the reduction in hospital readmission rate and risk of further complications.ConclusionIntegrating primary healthcare into aftercare was designed not only to improve the immediate transition that older patients faced but also to provide them with knowledge and skills to manage future health problems. There is a pressing need to introduce interventions at the primary healthcare level to support long-term care.

Optimal Cut-Off Points of 4-meter Gait Speed to Discriminate Functional Exercise Capacity and Health Status in Older patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BackgroundGait speed, a vital sign of health and functional capacity, is commonly used to measure mobility. Although studies have assessed gait speed in older adults and individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) separately, few have evaluated gait speed in older adults with COPD. Therefore, the primary objective of our study was to determine the threshold point for the 4-meter gait speed test (4MGS) to better discriminate between functional exercise capacity and health status in older patients with COPD. The second objective was to determine possible predictors of gait speed.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we assessed participants’ pulmonary function, dyspnea, health status (COPD Assessment Test [CAT]), gait speed (4MGS), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test [6MWT]), and physical activity. Results Forty-five older patients with COPD participated in this study. The predicted 6MWT and CAT scores were independent and significant determinants of the 4MGS score, explaining 54% of the variance (p<0.001). We identified gait speeds of 0.96 m/s and 1.04 m/s as thresholds to predict abnormal functional exercise capacity (sensitivity 85% and specificity 56%) and impaired health status (sensitivity 90% and specificity 69%), respectively (p<0.05).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that gait speed can discriminate between abnormal functional exercise capacity and impaired health status in older patients with COPD. Moreover, functional exercise capacity and health status are predictors of gait speed.

Management of prostate cancer in older patients.

The incidence of prostate cancer among older men has increased in many countries, including Asian countries. However, older patients are ineligible for inclusion in large randomized trials, and the existing guidelines for the management of patients with prostate cancer do not provide specific treatment recommendations for older men. Therefore, generation of evidence for older patients with prostate cancer is a key imperative. The International Society of Geriatric Oncology has produced and updated several guidelines for management of prostate cancer in older men since 2010. Regarding localized prostate cancer, both surgery and radiotherapy are considered as feasible treatment options for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer even in older men, whereas watchful waiting and active surveillance are useful options for a proportion of these patients. With regard to advanced disease, androgen-receptor axis targets and taxane chemotherapy are standard treatment modalities, although dose modification and prevention of adverse events need to be considered. Management strategy for older patients with prostate cancer should take cognizance of not only the chronological age but also psychological and physical condition, socio-economic status and patient preferences. Geriatric assessment and patient-reported health-related quality of life are important tools for assessing health status of older patients with prostate cancer; however, there is a paucity of evidence of the impact of these tools on the clinical outcomes. Personalized management according to the patient's health status and tumour characteristics as well as socio-economic condition may be necessary for treatment of older patients with prostate cancer.

Effect of Age on Outcomes of Allogeneic Transplantation in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) has become an increasingly important consolidation treatment option for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and as upfront therapy for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Although the median age at diagnosis for both diseases is above 65 years, studies evaluating allo-SCT as treatment option for patients aged 65 years or older are limited. Further, as the population ages, the number of patients above 65 years considered for allo-SCT will continue to rise. Thus, the aim of our current investigation was to analyze outcomes based on age in AML/MDS patients <65 years old and ≥65 years old who received allo-SCT at the Ohio State University.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for all AML/MDS patients who received allo-SCT between January 1984 and December 2018 at our institution. Primary endpoints included progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). PFS was counted from the day of transplantation to relapse or death. OS was defined as survival from the day of allo-SCT until death from any cause, with censoring of patients known to be alive at the time of last follow-up. PFS and OS were calculated using Kaplan Meier Curves. Secondary endpoints included cumulative incidences of grade II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD), chronic GVHD (cGVHD), relapse, and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Cumulative incidence rates of aGVHD, cGVHD, relapse, NRM were estimated and compared using Gray's test accounting for competing risks.Results: The cohort consisted of 900 AML/MDS patients, with 150 patients ≥65 years and 750 patients <65 years. The median age at transplant for the <65 years group was 49 years (range: 18-64 years) and 68 years (range: 65-76 years) for the ≥65 years group. Gender, race, Karnofsky score, and comorbidity index were similar between the two groups. A higher proportion of patients received myeloablative (MA) conditioning (65.1%) in the <65 years of age compared to 20% in the ≥65 years of age (p<0.01). A higher proportion of older patients had matched unrelated donors (57.3%), and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens (80%).The median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 176 days (range: 55-4920) for age <65 years and 168 days (range: 34-6079 days) for age ≥65 years. Median follow-up from allo-SCT was 5.9 years (range 0.8-35.9 years) and 3.4 years (range: 1.0-9.6 years) from transplantation among survivors. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment were similar among the groups (p=0.35; 0.11). 3 year OS of 42.3% (95% CI: 38.7-45.8%) and PFS of 38.3% (95% CI: 34.8%-41.9%) were observed for age <65 years. The corresponding OS and PFS for age ≥65 years was 46.3% (95% CI: 37.9%-54.3%) and 43.0% (95% CI: 34.7%-51.0%), respectively (Figure 1a & 1b). Cumulative incidences of relapse at 1 year in <65 and ≥65 years were 26.4% and 25.3%, respectively (p=0.43). The cumulative incidence of NRM at 1 year in <65 and ≥65 years was 23.2% and 17.3%, respectively (p=0.12; Figures 1c and d). The incidences of acute and chronic GVHD were similar in the two age groups. The cumulative incidence of aGVHD at day 100 in <65 and ≥65 years was 40.3% (95% CI: 36.4%-44.2%) and 43.0% (95% CI: 34.9%-50.7%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of cGVHD at day 365 in <65 and ≥65 years was 40.8% (95% CI: 36.9%-44.6%) and 41.6% (95% CI: 33.6%-49.4%), respectively.Conclusion: Overall, our study suggests similar outcomes for elderly patients undergoing allo-HCT as compared to their counterparts, which is in line with prior studies. This likely is due to advancements in the transplant field, including the development of RIC and alternative donors, which have allowed greater access to transplant for older adults. Utilization of allo-HCT is feasible and should be considered for AML/MDS patients ≥65 years. Further research is underway to evaluate the important determinants of health status in older patients undergoing allo-HCT and to ultimately help predict NRM (BMT CTN 1704). [Display omitted] DisclosuresBumma: Amgen, Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Janssen, Oncopeptides, Sanofi: Consultancy. Vasu: Seattle Genetics: Other: travel support; Boehringer Ingelheim: Other: Travel support; Kiadis, Inc.: Research Funding; Omeros, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jaglowski: Takeda: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Mims: Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Consultancy; Glycomemetics: Research Funding; Aptevo: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Daiichi-Saynko: Consultancy. Brammer: Celgene: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Kymera Therapeutics: Consultancy. Saad: Incyte Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; careDx: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Kadmon: Research Funding; OrcaBio: Research Funding; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy. de Lima: Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Safety and efficacy of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in fit older patients with intermediate or locally advanced rectal cancer evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment: A planned interim analysis of a multicenter, phase II trial

Background and purposeComprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a diagnostic method to assess the physical and mental health status of older patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (preCRT) for intermediate or locally advanced rectal cancer in older people who were classified as “fit” by CGA. The interim analysis focusing on safety was reported here as the first part of this trial. Methods and materialsThis is a single arm, multicenter, phase II trial. The eligible patients for this study were aged 70 years or above that fulfilled the standard of intermediate or locally advanced risk category, and met the standard of fit (SIOG1) evaluated by CGA. All patients received preCRT (50 Gy) with Raltitrexed (3 mg/m2 on d1 and d22). Qualitative and quantitative variables were described using descriptive statistics. The surgery adherence predicting was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. ResultsThirty-nine fit patients were enrolled. All patients except one finished radiotherapy without dose reduction. Thirty-two patients finished the prescribed Raltitrexed therapy as scheduled. A serious toxicity was observed in 12 patients (30.8%), and only six patients (15.4%) experienced non-hematological side effects. ConclusionOverall, our results showed that preCRT was feasible and safe in older patients with rectal cancer who were evaluated as fit based on CGA, supporting the use of CGA to tailor oncological treatment and predict the tolerance of a specific therapy. Completing this trial as planned would provide further valuable insights.

Measurement properties of EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L in recording self-reported health status in older patients with substantial multimorbidity and polypharmacy

BackgroundThe EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L are two generic health-related quality of life measures, which may be used in clinical and health economic research. They measure impairment in 5 aspects of health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L in measuring the self-reported health status of older patients with substantial multimorbidity and associated polypharmacy.MethodsBetween 2017 and 2019, we administered EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L to a subset of patients participating in the OPERAM trial at 6 months and 12 months after enrolment. The OPERAM trial is a two-arm multinational cluster randomised controlled trial of structured medication review assisted by a software-based decision support system versus usual pharmaceutical care, for older people (aged ≥ 70 years) with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. In the psychometric analyses, we only included participants who completed the measures in full at 6 and 12 months. We assessed whether responses to the measures were consistent by assessing the proportion of EQ-5D-5L responses, which were 2 or more levels away from that person’s EQ-5D-3L response. We also compared the measures in terms of informativity, and discriminant validity and responsiveness relative to the Barthel Index, which measures independence in activities of daily living.Results224 patients (mean age of 77 years; 56% male) were included in the psychometric analyses. Ceiling effects reported with the EQ-5D-5L (22%) were lower than with the EQ-5D-3L (29%). For the mobility item, the EQ-5D-5L demonstrated better informativity (Shannon’s evenness index score of 0.86) than the EQ-5D-3L (Shannon’s evenness index score of 0.69). Both the 3L and 5L versions of EQ-5D demonstrated good performance in terms of discriminant validity, i.e. (out of all items of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L, the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression items had the weakest correlation with the Barthel Index. Both the 3L and 5L versions of EQ-5D demonstrated good responsiveness to changes in the Barthel Index.ConclusionBoth EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L demonstrated validity and responsiveness when administered to older adults with substantial multimorbidity and polypharmacy who were able to complete the measures.

Antipsychotic Polypharmacy in Older Adult Asian Patients With Schizophrenia: Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Pattern.

Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) is a controversial topic in the treatment of older adults with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to examine the use of APP in older adult Asian patients with schizophrenia and its associated demographic and clinical factors. This study was based on the fourth survey of the consortium known as the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Pattern for Antipsychotics. Fifteen Asian countries/territories participated in this survey, including Bangladesh, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Basic demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a standardized data collection form. Among the 879 older adults with schizophrenia included in the survey, the rate of APP was 40.5%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that higher antipsychotic doses (P < .001, odds ratio [OR] = 1.003, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002-1.003), longer duration of illness (P = .02, OR = 1.845, 95% CI: 1.087-3.132), and the prescription of anticholinergics (P < .001, OR = 1.871, 95% CI: 1.329-2.635), second-generation antipsychotics (P = .001, OR = 2.264, 95% CI: 1.453-3.529), and first-generation antipsychotics (P < .001, OR = 3.344, 95% CI: 2.307-4.847) were significantly associated with APP. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was common in older adult Asian patients with schizophrenia. Compared to the results of previous surveys, the use of APP showed a declining trend over time. Considering the general poor health status of older patients with schizophrenia and their increased risk of drug-induced adverse events, the use of APP in this population needs careful consideration.

Low levels of intra-tumoural T cells in breast cancer identify clinically frail patients with shorter disease-specific survival.

The global health status of older patients with cancer influences their clinical course, but little is known regarding the influence of the immune system on the global health of older patients with cancer. The goal of this study was to assess the relationships between patient fitness/frailty status and survival, and the local tumour immune environment of older patients with breast cancer. In a cohort of 58 older patients with breast cancer (over 70 years of age), fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate whether levels of intra-tumoural T cells (CD3+) and granulocytic cells (CD15+) could predict clinical outcome, and/or whether they correlated with patient physical and mental performance as evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment. We observed that patients with higher levels of intra-tumoural T cells were fitter according to a number of clinical health measures including G8 (p = 0.006), Karnofsky Index (p = 0.0372), and Leuven Oncology Frailty Score (LOFS) (p = 0.0187). In contrast, high relative levels of granulocytic cells were found in patients with poorer clinical health (LOFS, p = 0.0474). Furthermore, high levels of T cells but not granulocytic cells were associated with longer breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.0444). This is the first study to show that low relative levels of intra-tumoural T cells are associated with inferior patient fitness. In contrast to T cells, we observed that intra-tumoural granulocytic cells displayed an inverse relationship with patient performance. Further research is needed to determine whether boosting the level of intra-tumoural T cells in older non-fit patients can result in improved outcome.

The oral health status of older patients in acute care on admission and day 7 in two Australian hospitals.

Good oral hygiene needed to prevent hospital acquired aspiration pneumonia in older patients.

Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Older Adults with Chronic Disease in Taiwan

Summary Background There have been many studies reviewing quality of life (QoL) of older population and found an inverse association between QoL and chronic diseases. However, previous studies have focused only on that of people with specific diseases. In this study, we identified critical quality of life determinants, especially risk for disability, in older adults suffering from chronic diseases. Methods A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. A purposive sample of 115 older patients, diagnosed with co-morbidity was recruited from an outpatient medical center in Southern Taiwan. Results Results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the overall regression model explained 49% of the variance in QoL. After controlling the sociodemographic factors and health status of older patients, the risk for disabilities in social isolation and depression were negatively correlated with QoL. Alzheimer disease-8 (AD-8) had the strongest association with the total QoL score, and it alone explained 27% of the variance. Conclusion Understanding the importance of determining factors of poor QoL, such as potential cognitive impairment, potential social isolation and depression, inadequate family income, and diminished ability to perform practical and social activities (IADLs) among older adults with chronic diseases is critical for geriatric health care providers. Awareness of these factors can assist providers in identifying people at risk and guide new intervention programs to improve care for these invaluable members of our communities.

Health status of older patients with type 2 diabetes and screen-detected heart failure is significantly lower than those without

a Center for Diagnostic Support in Primary Care (‘SHL-Groep’), Department of Scientific Research, Bredaseweg 165, 4872 LA Etten-Leur, The Netherlands b Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands c Cardiologist, Leusden, The Netherlands d Department of Cardiology, Sint Franciscus Hospital, The Netherlands e Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

Development and psychometric validation of a brief comprehensive health status assessment scale in older patients with hematological malignancies: The GAH Scale.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new brief, comprehensive geriatric assessment scale for older patients diagnosed with different hematological malignancies, the Geriatric Assessment in Hematology (GAH scale), and to determine its psychometric properties. The 30-item GAH scale was designed through a multi-step process to cover 8 relevant dimensions. This is an observational study conducted in 363 patients aged≥65years, newly diagnosed with different hematological malignancies (myelodysplasic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and treatment-naïve. The scale psychometric validation process included the analyses of feasibility, floor and ceiling effect, validity and reliability criteria. Mean time taken to complete the GAH scale was 11.9±4.7min that improved through a learning-curve effect. Almost 90% of patients completed all items, and no floor or ceiling effects were identified. Criterion validity was supported by reasonable correlations between the GAH scale dimensions and three contrast variables (global health visual analogue scale, ECOG and Karnofsky), except for comorbidities. Factor analysis (supported by the scree plot) revealed nine factors that explained almost 60% of the total variance. Moderate internal consistency reliability was found (Cronbach's α: 0.610), and test-retest was excellent (ICC coefficients, 0.695-0.928). Our study suggests that the GAH scale is a valid, internally reliable and a consistent tool to assess health status in older patients with different hematological malignancies. Future large studies should confirm whether the GAH scale may be a tool to improve clinical decision-making in older patients with hematological malignancies.

Validation Of a Comprehensive Health Status Assessment Scale In Older Patients (≥ 65 years) With Hematological Malignances. Gah Study

▪ BackgroundOlder patients are increasingly prevalent in oncological practice. However, the evidence suggests that this group of patients is undertreated, mainly because of their advanced age, regardless of whether they are highly functional patients, do not present comorbidities, or could benefit from oncological therapies. The US National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology have recommended that some form of geriatric assessment should be conducted to help Hematologists and Oncologists in order to identify current health problems and to guide interventions to reduce adverse outcomes and optimize the functional statusCurrently, the main tool for assessing older patients is a comprehensive geriatric assessment, although its complexity and duration may hinder its regular use in daily practice as a tool for clinical decision making. Several attempts have been made to assess comorbidities in the specific field of mielodysplasia, but mainly focused on organic damage rather than global assessment. AimWe are in the process of developing and validating a comprehensive health status assessment scale (Geriatric Assessment in Hematology, GAH Scale) with eight dimensions in patients ≥ 65 years with: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma (MM). MethodsAfter item-pool generation, stakeholder consultation and content validation, a brief scale of 8 dimensions with selected items has been created.Feasibility was confirmed in 83 patients. Afterwards, a multicenter, observational, prospective study has been carried out in 20 hospitals in Spain, enrolling 189 elderly naïve to treatment patients with newly diagnosed MDS, AML or MM.The scale validation process integrates the analysis of criterion and concept validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability, as well as the evaluation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and factor analysis. After psychometric validation phase, further studies will be carried out in order to evaluate its clinical use for prognosis and clinical decision making. Results189 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria have been enrolled in the study, 54% women. Median age at diagnosis was 73.3 ± 6.64 years. According to diagnosis, 103 patients (54.5%) had MDS or AML and 86 (45.5%) had MM.Regarding feasibility, mean time for filling in the questionnaire was 12.1 ± 4.5 min. 83.6% of patients answered 100% of questions of the scale. Mean percentage of unanswered questions per patient was 1%.Test-retest was completed by 112 patients. GAH Scale showed satisfactory test-retest reliability. ICC was statistically significant for each dimension, being greater than 0.65 for 6 of the 8 dimensions (p<0.05), indicating that GAH Scale is independent of the observer and is stable in clinically stable patients along the time. Floor and ceiling effects were no detected.Internal consistency, content validity and factor analysis are being carried out and results will be presented in the forthcoming congress. ConclusionThis new GAH Scale is a valid, reliable and consistent tool, simple enough to assess health status in older patients with haematological malignancies. Further studies will have to stablish if it may be a tool to improve decision making in such patients. Disclosures:Bonanad:Celgene: Consultancy. Gonzalez:Celgene: Consultancy. Durán:Celgene: Employment. Marcos:Celgene: Employment. López:Celgene: Employment. Cruz-Jentoft:Celgene: Research Funding.

PHP41 - Polypharmacy And Self-Perceived Health Status In Older Patients

PHP41 - Polypharmacy And Self-Perceived Health Status In Older Patients

Time Trends in Medication Use and Expenditures in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

BackgroundWe sought to examine how expansions in insurance coverage of nonbiologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs affected the access, costs, and health status of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis. MethodsWe identified a nationally representative sample of older adults with rheumatoid arthritis in the 2000-2006 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (unweighted n=1051). We examined changes in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use, self-reported health status, functional status (activities of daily living), and total costs and out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs. Tests for time trends were conducted using weighted regressions. ResultsBetween 2000 and 2006, the proportion of older adults with rheumatoid arthritis who received biologics tripled (4.6% vs 13.2%, P=.01), whereas the proportion of people who used a nonbiologic did not change. During the same period, the proportion of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis rating their health as excellent/good significantly increased (43.0% in 2000 to 55.6% in 2006; P=.015). Significant improvements occurred in activities of daily living measures of functional status. Total prescription drug costs (in 2006 US dollars) increased from $2645 in 2000 to $4685 in 2006, P=.0001, whereas out-of-pocket prescription costs remained constant ($842 in 2000 vs $832 in 2006; P=.68). Total medical costs did not significantly increase ($16,563 in 2000 vs $19,510 in 2006; P=.07). ConclusionReceipt of biologics in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis increased over a period of time when insurance coverage was expanded without increasing patients' out-of-pocket costs. During this time period, concurrent improvements in self-reported health status and functional status suggest improved arthritis care.

Differences in health status of older people aged 65 and above after total hip replacement compared with the normal population: a cross‐sectional study

Aim. The aim of the study was to describe the health status of older patients with osteoarthrosis following total hip replacement and to compare their health status with population norms in order to analyse the need for a rehabilitation programme after total hip replacement. Background. Total hip replacement is a very efficient operation in terms of pain relief and improvement of walking ability. However, after the operation some patients still report low health status. Method. A cross-sectional study including 287 older patients aged 65-74 and 75+ years who had had total hip replacement within the previous 12 months was performed. Patients from five Danish counties received a mailed questionnaire requesting information about their health status and demographic data. The Short-Form 36 measures eight domains of importance of health. The scores related to each dimension are transformed to an interval scale ranging from 0 (worst score) to 100 (best score). Danish population norm data were used as reference point. Results. In total, 287 (91.4%) patients responded. The patients completed the questionnaire 207 (114) days after surgery within a range of 10-360 days. In all eight health domains patients reported significantly lower scores than the age specific norm population. Conclusion. Our results indicate that health status is scored lower for patients after total hip replacement. This implies that there might be a need for further postoperative rehabilitation based on the identification of problems experienced by patients in the postoperative period. Relevance to clinical practice. Patients health status is a predictor for well-being, quality of life and survival. Older people need rehabilitation after surgery to reduce dysfunction and improve perception of health. Our results demonstrate a need for further studies examining problems experienced by patients in the postoperative period. Intervention research is needed before such a programme can be implemented.

A Correlation of Radiographic and Functional Measurements in Adult Degenerative Scoliosis

Retrospective functional and radiographic analysis of symptomatic patients with de novo degenerative lumbar and thoracolumbar scoliosis. To evaluate the radiographic parameters of symptomatic patients presenting with de novo degenerative adult scoliosis and correlate them with functional scores. Previous studies have been inconclusive as to the correlation of radiographic parameters and clinical symptomatology. Radiographic analysis of 58 consecutive symptomatic patients with de novo degenerative lumbar and thoracolumbar scoliosis was performed using posteroanterior and lateral 36-inch standing radiographs. Measurements included curve type, curve location, curve magnitude, coronal alignment, sagittal alignment, and anteroposterior and lateral intervertebral olisthesis. Clinical functional data were measured with Oswestry Disability Index, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and RAND 36-item Health Survey questionnaire. Correlation between clinical data and radiographic data were then calculated. Sagittal balance did not show significant correlation with functional results. However, coronal imbalance (more than 5 cm from midsacrum) affected physical function (P = 0.028) and outcomes (P > 0.05). Also, moderate to severe lateral olisthesis (equal or more than 6 mm) demonstrated higher bodily pain then mild lateral olisthesis (P = 0.005). Good lumbar lordosis correlated positively with health assessment as reflected in SF-36 score (P = 0.039, r = 0.291). Reduced lumbar lordosis and increased lumbosacral scoliosis can affect the general health status of older patients with de novo degenerative scoliosis. Lateral olisthesis, mainly, and anteroposterior olisthesis are important elements of rotatory subluxation in the lumbar curves, which are important radiographic parameters, predicting symptomatology and health status of patients with de novo degenerative scoliosis.