Quality of life of older gynecologic oncology patients at the initiation of chemotherapy.
Anne Grethe Kleven, Christine Miaskowski, Ann Helen Torstveit and 4 others
PMID 37337353WHAT IT FOUND
Before chemotherapy, older gynecologic cancer patients reported lower global, physical, role and social function than age-matched Norwegian women; emotional function was similar, and cognitive function was higher.
Key findings
01At the start of chemotherapy, patients' global health status score was 58.6, lower than the general population score of 69.9.
02Social function showed the largest clinically meaningful difference from the general population (effect size d=0.62).
03Emotional function was similar between patients and the general population (81.2 vs 82.5).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The analysis included only 122 patients and mixed gynecologic cancer diagnoses, so it may not apply to every older gynecologic oncology patient. The comparison group was general population data collected in 2004, not concurrent patients, and the authors note that current older adults may have better physical and cognitive function. Patients were selected for relatively good cognitive and physical status (MoCA score of 23 or higher and Karnofsky Performance Status of 60 or higher), so results do not show quality of life for more impaired or frail patients. Quality of life was measured at initiation of chemotherapy, so the study cannot show what chemotherapy caused. Of 208 patients approached, 149 consented, one withdrew, and nine were excluded after consent. The QLQ-C30 social and cognitive function scales are measured with two items, so those domain scores may be limited.
Declared interests
Supported by a grant from the Faculty of Health Sciences, OsloMet, Oslo Metropolitan University. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that chemotherapy caused these quality-of-life decrements. The patients were assessed at the initiation of chemotherapy, before treatment, and the study compared their scores with general population data.