Co-occurrence of decrements in physical and cognitive function is common in older oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.
Inger Utne, Bruce A Cooper, Christine Ritchie and 10 others
PMID 32835999WHAT IT FOUND
39.3% of older patients receiving chemotherapy had low physical and cognitive function together, and 15.6% had very low physical function with moderate cognition.
The profiles stayed stable over two cycles. Assess both.
Key findings
01Three profiles were found among older chemotherapy patients: 45.1% normal physical and cognitive function, 39.3% low physical and low cognitive function, and 15.6% very low physical function with moderate cognitive function.
02These physical and cognitive function trajectories remained relatively stable over two cycles of chemotherapy.
03Compared with the normal-function class, the low physical and low cognitive function class had lower performance status, worse comorbidity, less regular exercise, higher chemotherapy toxicity potential, and more depression and back pain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Physical and cognitive function were measured by self-report questionnaires, not objective tests. The observation period covered only two chemotherapy cycles, so it does not describe function from initiation to completion of treatment. Patients who refused participation were often overwhelmed by treatment, and the analysis required English reading and writing, so the sample may not represent the most distressed or most impaired patients. The study did not test whether exercise, physical therapy, or nursing monitoring changes physical or cognitive function. Differences between profile groups are associations, not evidence of cause.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not state a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that chemotherapy caused these physical and cognitive profiles or that exercise, physical therapy, or nursing assessment will improve them. The study observed self-reported function over two cycles and did not test an intervention.