Study of Physical and Mental Health of Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

- To create a Geriatric-Oncology database of patients 65 years of age and older with
newly diagnosed cancer who have been identified as being at increased risk of
functional decline and mortality within a year.

- To enhance the Geriatric-Oncology Database by linking it to the Central Medicare
Services (CMS) Database and the Ohio Death Files.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients undergo a 1-hour comprehensive geriatric assessment at baseline and periodically
during the study as part of routine care. The assessments include the Lawton's nine-item
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); the Katz's Activity of Daily Living (ADL);
the Timed Up and Go Test; the Karnofsky Physician-Rated Performance Rating Scale (KPS); the
number of falls in the past 6 months; the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA); the Body Mass
Index; the percent of unintentional weight loss in the past 6 months; the Medical Outcomes
Study (MOS) Social Support Subscale (emotional/information and tangible subscales); the MOS
Social Activity Limitations Measures; the Charlson Comorbidity Index; the Cumulative Index
Rating Scale Geriatrics (CIRS-G); the ACE-27; the Folstein's Mini-Mental State Examination
(MMSE); the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); the Functional Pain Scale; and a list of
medications.

Data will be obtained from patients medical records at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and 3
years. At completion of 1 and 3 years of follow up, the Geriatric-Oncology Database will be
linked to the Central Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Database and the Ohio Death
Files.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed newly diagnosed cancer

- Any stage disease

- At increased risk for functional decline and mortality within the next year as per
the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) screening tool (score ≥ 3)

- Seeking care at the Ireland Cancer Center (University hospitals and all other
satellite sites)

- Patients with a pre-existing cancer diagnosis and a geriatric syndrome referred
directly to the Senior Adult Oncology Program by their providers for a
geriatric-oncology consultative evaluation are not eligible

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Able to speak and comprehend English

- Able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- Not specified