Quality of life in very elderly radiotherapy patients: a prospective pilot study using the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 module

Abstract

In radiotherapy patients ≥80 years, HRQOL was maintained until the end of radiotherapy but deteriorated in general and elderly-specific areas thereafter, suggesting a need to develop specific supportive interventions for this age group.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery with free-flap reconstruction in the elderly: Factors associated with long-term quality of life, patient needs and concerns. A GETTEC cross-sectional study

“…To our knowledge, the present study is the first study to use the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 questionnaire to explore, after OOPC primary surgical treatment, QoL domains of specific importance for elderly persons. There are few well-conducted studies assessing EORTC QLQ-ELD14 [19]. Interestingly, 6 months after therapy, they showed QoL scores far worse than those observed in the present study regarding mobility, joint stiffness, worries about others, worries about the future, burden of illness and maintaining purpose.…”

“…Interestingly, 6 months after therapy, they showed QoL scores far worse than those observed in the present study regarding mobility, joint stiffness, worries about others, worries about the future, burden of illness and maintaining purpose. However, the population included in the Kaufman study was significantly different from the cohort in the present study, with a higher mean patient age, various types of cancer and more patients receiving palliative treatment [19]. The only comparable score between the two studies was the family support score, suggesting that, even when QoL is more severely affected by the cancer and its treatment, family support remains stable and represents a critical source of comfort for patients.…”

Psychological distress, chronic conditions and quality of life in elderly hematologic cancer patients: study protocol of a prospective study

“…Each scale has a score range between 0 and 100. While on the first four of these scales, higher scores indicate poorer mobility, more severe joint stiffness, higher degrees of worries about others and future worries, and a higher burden of illness, on the last two of these scales, higher scores stand for better family support and maintenance of autonomy and purpose respectively [ 40 ].…”

Multimodale Supportivintervention zur Förderung der körperlichen Funktionsfähigkeit älterer Krebspatientinnen und Krebspatienten

“…Mögliche Reduktion von Koordination, Balance, Muskelkraft und Knochendichte oft in Kombination mit Fatigue [7] können die Alltagsfunktionalität insbesondere bei bereits beeinträchtigten Personen gefährden. In eigenen Beobachtungsstudien bei hochalten Patient / innen (≥80 Jahre) [8] und bei älteren (≥65 Jahre) berichteten die Patient / innen jeweils 6 Monate nach Behandlungsbeginn stärkere Fatigue und geringere körperliche Funktion. In einer weiteren Studie, in der vor Therapiebeginn Risikofaktoren mittels Assessments erfasst und entsprechend adressiert wurden, berichtete ein Teil der Patient / innen ohne Funktionseinschränkungen vor Therapie im 6-Monats Follow-up klinisch relevant reduzierte körperliche Funktionsfähigkeit [9].…”