TY - JOUR
AR - COR-2019-4-107
TI - Frailty in Older Patients Referred to Oncology, and Impact of Treatment: Use of a Modified 6 Item Score
AU - Bridget, Robinson
AU - Chris, Frampton
AU - Claire, Whitehead
AU - Dean, Harris
AU - Ruth, Gerring
JO - Clinical Oncology and Research
PY - 2019
DA - Fri 20, Sep 2019
SN - 2613-4942
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.COR.2019.04.07
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/frailty-in-older-patients-referred-to-oncology-and-impact-of-treatment-use-of-a-modified-6-item-score_COR-2019-4-107 
KW -  Frailty, frailty score, medical oncology, cancer treatment, cohort study
AB - Aims: Retrospectively audit the outcome of frail older patients referred to a regional medical oncology
service in New Zealand and assess the 8 item G8 frailty score.
Methods: For all patients 75 years and older assigned a first assessment at the medical oncology service
over 12 months, data on diagnosis and health status was collected, and the G8 score determined.
Results: 305 of the 350 given an appointment attended, 52% were male, 53% had metastatic disease, 29%
had colorectal cancer. If aged 84+ years, 50% deteriorated or died within 6 months. Age, cancer diagnosis,
stage, and higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were associated with poor outcome at 6 months; use of
chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, radiation and surgery with better outcome. Data allowed use of 6 items
from the G8 score; with 55% classified frail or vulnerable on G6 score. At 6 months 62.7% deemed frail
had deteriorated or died, compared with 22.9% of those not frail.
Conclusion: In patients with a new cancer diagnosis aged 75 years and older, outcome at 6 months was
associated with age, cancer type, stage, treatment and G6 score. The G6 frailty score used age, weight and
height (BMI), loss of appetite, decreased mobility, self-declared health status and medication use, and
should be tested prospectively.