Key Points
Question
Is collaboration between geriatricians and surgeons in the perioperative care of older patients with cancer associated with postoperative outcomes?
Findings
In this cohort study including 1892 patients aged 75 years and older, the adjusted probability of death within 90 days after surgery was 4.3% for patients who received geriatric comanagement of care, compared with 8.9% for patients who received care management from the surgical service only.
Meaning
These findings suggest that when feasible, older patients undergoing surgical treatment for cancer should receive geriatric care comanagement as part of their perioperative care.
Key Points
Question
Can a more clinically feasible version of the modified Frailty Index for older patients with cancer be developed?
Findings
In this cohort study of 1137 older patients with cancer, the Memorial Sloan Kettering–Frailty Index (MSK-FI) was associated with aging-related impairments. A higher score on the MSK-FI was also associated with a longer length of stay, higher odds of intensive care unit admission, and lower overall survival.
Meaning
The MSK-FI may be a feasible tool to perioperatively assess frailty in older patients with cancer.
Background: The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA PS) classification system is the most common method of assessing preoperative functional status. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been proposed as a supplementary tool for preoperative assessment of older adults. The goal of this study was to assess the correlation between ASA classification and CGA deficits among oncogeriatric patients and to determine the association of each with 6-month survival. Patients and Methods: Oncogeriatric patients (aged ≥75 years) who underwent preoperative CGA in an outpatient geriatric clinic at a single tertiary comprehensive cancer center were identified. All patients underwent surgery, with a hospital length of stay (LOS) ≥1 day and at least 6 months of follow-up. ASA classifications were obtained from preoperative anesthesiology notes. Preoperative CGA scores ranged from 0 to 13. Six-month survival was assessed using the Social Security Death Index. Results: In total, 81 of the 980 patients (8.3%) included in the study cohort died within 6 months of surgery. Most patients were classified as ASA PS III (85.4%). The mean number of CGA deficits for patients with PS II was 4.03, PS III was 5.15, and PS IV was 6.95 (P<.001). ASA classification was significantly associated with age, preoperative albumin level, hospital LOS, and 30-day intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. On multivariable analysis, 6-month mortality was associated with number of CGA deficits (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 per each unit increase in CGA score; P=.01), 30-day ICU admissions (OR, 2.77; P=.003), hospital LOS (OR, 1.03; P=.02), and preoperative albumin level (OR, 0.36; P=.004). ASA classification was not associated with 6-month mortality. Conclusions: Number of CGA deficits was strongly associated with 6-month mortality; ASA classification was not. Preoperative CGA elicits critical information that can be used to enhance the prediction of postoperative outcomes among older patients with cancer.
BACKGROUND: Surgery is a notable stressor for older adults with cancer, who often are medically and psychosocially complex. The current study examined rates of preoperative psychosocial risk factors in older adults with cancer who were undergoing elective surgery and the relationship between these risk factors and the provision of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization. METHODS: A total of 1211 patients aged ≥75 years who were referred to the geriatrics service at a comprehensive cancer center were enrolled. Patients underwent elective surgery with a length of stay of ≥3 days and were followed for at least 30 days after surgery. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was administered as part of routine preoperative care. Bivariate relationships between demographic and surgical characteristics and the preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and the receipt of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization period were examined. Characteristics with bivariate relationships that were significant at the level of P < .10 were entered into a multivariable regression predicting postoperative mental health service use. RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth of the total sample (20.6%) received postoperative mental health services. In multivariable analyses, high distress (P = .007) and poor social support (P = .02) were found to be associated with a greater likelihood of the receipt of mental health services. Of those patients with high distress and poor social support, only approximately one-quarter (24.6%-25.5%) received mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: Distressed older adults and those with low levels of support preoperatively were found to be more likely to receive mental health services after surgery. Nevertheless, less than one-third of these patients received inpatient postoperative mental health care, indicating that barriers to translating screening into the provision of psychosocial services remain. Cancer 2020;126:602-610.
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