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The effect of a geriatric evaluation on treatment decisions for older patients with colorectal cancer

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Treating elderly colorectal cancer patients can be challenging. It is very important to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of potential treatments in individual patients. This treatment decision making can be guided by geriatric consultation. Our aim was to assess the effect of a geriatric evaluation on treatment decisions for older patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods

Colorectal cancer patients who were referred for a geriatric consultation between 2013 and 2015 in three Dutch teaching hospitals were included in a prospective database. The outcome of geriatric assessment, non-oncological interventions and geriatricians’ treatment recommendations were evaluated.

Results

The total number of included referrals was 168. The median age was 81 years (range 60–94). Most patients (71%) had colon cancer and 49% had tumour stage III disease. The reason for geriatric consultation was uncertainty regarding the optimal oncologic treatment in 139 patients (83%). Overall 93% of patients suffered from geriatric impairments; non-oncological interventions that followed after geriatric consultation was mostly aimed at malnutrition. The geriatrician recommended the ‘more intensive treatment’ option in 69% and the ‘less intensive treatment’ option in 31% of which 63% ‘supportive care only’.

Conclusion

Geriatric consultation can be useful in treatment decision making in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. It may lead to changes in the treatment plan for individual cases and may result in an additional optimisation of patient’s health status prior to treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    N. M. Verweij & M. E. Hamaker

  2. Department of Surgery, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    N. M. Verweij, A. H. W. Schiphorst & A. Pronk

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Haga Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands

    E. T. D. Souwer, J. E. A. Portielje & F. van den Bos

  4. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    H. A. Maas

Authors
  1. N. M. Verweij
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  2. E. T. D. Souwer
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  3. A. H. W. Schiphorst
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  4. H. A. Maas
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  5. J. E. A. Portielje
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  6. A. Pronk
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  7. F. van den Bos
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  8. M. E. Hamaker
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Contributions

N. M. Verweij: Study design, interpretation of data, wrote the paper and approved the final version. Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

E. T. D. Souwer, H. A. Maas, J. E. A. Portielje, A. Pronk, F. van den Bos: Study design, revising and approved the final version. Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

A. H. W. Schiphorst, M. E. Hamaker: Study design, interpretation of data, revising and approved the final version. Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Financial support

This study was supported by the Aart Huisman Scholarship for research in geriatric oncology and the Cornelis Visser Foundation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. M. Verweij.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Verweij, N.M., Souwer, E.T.D., Schiphorst, A.H.W. et al. The effect of a geriatric evaluation on treatment decisions for older patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis 32, 1625–1629 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-017-2883-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-017-2883-8

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