Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 May;12(4):658-665.
doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.10.018. Epub 2020 Nov 7.

Perspectives on functional status in older adults with cancer: An interprofessional report from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) nursing and allied health interest group and young SIOG

Ginah Nightingale  1 , Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti  2 , Kah Poh Loh  3 , Martine Puts  4 , Cindy Kenis  5 , Annette Goldberg  6 , Kristen R Haase  7 , Jessica Krok-Schoen  8 , Gábor Liposits  9 , Schroder Sattar  10 , Petra Stolz-Baskett  11 , Mackenzi Pergolotti  12
Affiliations
Review

Perspectives on functional status in older adults with cancer: An interprofessional report from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) nursing and allied health interest group and young SIOG

Ginah Nightingale et al. J Geriatr Oncol. 2021 May.

Abstract

Most adults with cancer are over 65 years of age, and this cohort is expected to grow exponentially. Older adults have an increased burden of comorbidities and risk of experiencing adverse events on anticancer treatments, including functional decline. Functional impairment is a predictor of increased risk of chemotherapy toxicity and shorter survival in this population. Healthcare professionals caring for older adults with cancer should be familiar with the concept of functional status and its implications because of the significant interplay between function, cancer, anticancer treatments, and patient-reported outcomes. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of functional status among older patients with cancer including predictors, screening, and assessment tools. We also discuss the impact of functional impairment on patient outcomes, and describe the role of individual members of an interprofessional team in addressing functional impairment in this population, including the use of a collaborative approach aiming to preserve function.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Functional impairment; Functional status; Geriatric assessment; Instrumental activities of daily living; Rehabilitation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Puts is supported as a Canada Research Chair in the Care for Frail Older Adults. Dr. Battisti has received travel grants from Genomic Health and Pfizer and speaker fees from Pfizer. Dr. Loh is supported by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health (K99CA237744) and Wilmot Research Fellowship Award and has served as a consultant to Pfizer and Seattle Genetics. Dr. Pergolotti receives a salary from ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, Select Medical, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Impact of functional decline on outcomes of older patients with cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Delivorias A and SG, EU Demographic Indicators: Situation, Trends And Potential Challenges. 2015, Europe’s Demographic Future Berlin Institut: https://epthinktank.eu/2015/03/20/eu-demographic-indicators-situation-tr.... Accessed February 25, 2020.
    1. Yancik R, Ries LA. Cancer in older persons: an international issue in an aging world. Seminars in oncology. 2004; 31(2):128–136. - PubMed
    1. Bultz BD, Carlson LE. Emotional distress: the sixth vital sign—future directions in cancer care. Psycho-Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer. 2006;15(2):93–5. - PubMed
    1. Van den Beuken-van Everdingen MH, De Rijke JM, Kessels AG, Schouten HC, Van Kleef M, Patijn J. Prevalence of pain in patients with cancer: a systematic review of the past 40 years. Annals of oncology. 2007;18(9):1437–49. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization, International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. 2001: Geneva: World Health Organization.

Publication types