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Table 1 Literature review of geriatric intervention programs

From: Role of geriatric intervention in the treatment of older patients with cancer: rationale and design of a phase III multicenter trial

First author

Study design

N

Population

Mean age

Intervention

Primary end-point

Results

Bourdel-Marchasson [13]

Multicenter RCT*

336

Patients with solid tumor treated by chemotherapy at risk of malnutrition (17 ≤ MNA ≤ 23.5).

78.0y

3–6 months diet counselling intervention

1-year mortality

- Early dietary counselling was efficient in increasing intake but had no beneficial effect on mortality.

Hempenius [10]

Multicenter RCT

260

Frail elderly patients undergoing elective surgery for a solid tumor

≈77.5y

Geriatric liaison intervention

Postoperative delirium

- Intervention for frail elderly cancer patients receiving surgery to prevent post-operative delirium was not effective.

Demark-Wahnefried [34]

Multicenter international RCT (RENEW study)

641

Overweight long-term survivors (≥5 years) of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer

≈73y

12-month diet and exercise intervention via telephone counseling and print materials

Change in functional status (baseline/12-month and 24-month)

Diet quality, BMI and physical activity

- Significant change in functional status between intervention group and control group (p < 0.01): amelioration of functional decline in intervention group. Significant change in diet quality, physical activity and BMI (p < 0.01).

Morey [7]

Change in functional status (baseline/12 m) using the Medical Outcomes Study SF36 questionnaire, health-related QoL

- Significant change in physical function (p = 0.03) and QoL (p = 0.007) between groups.

Lapid [35]

Subset geriatric analysis from stratified, two-group RCT

33

New advanced cancer diagnosis (5-year OS: 0–50 %) planned to receive radiotherapy

≈72y

4-week multidisciplinary QoL intervention

QoL measured with Spitzer uniscale and linear analogue self-assessment (LASA) at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 27

- Significant improvement in QoL (p < 0.05) at baseline, maintained at 4 and 8 weeks.

Rao [14]

Subset analysis from RCT [36]

99

Frail elderly cancer patients hospitalized on a medical or surgical ward (≥2 days)

≈74y

Geriatric assessment and patient management by a geriatric attending physician and a social worker

12-month survival and health-related QoL (after randomization), ADL, physical performance, health service utilization, and costs

- No significant effect on survival or QoL parameters.

Positive effects of geriatric inpatient care on mental health and bodily pain (p < 0.05).

Days of hospitalization and cost similar.

Goodwin [6]

Multicenter RCT

335

Older women (≥65y) newly (<2 months) diagnosed with breast cancer

≈72y

12-month nurse case management

Type and use of cancer-specific therapies received in the first 6 months after diagnosis.

Patient satisfaction and arm function

- More appropriate management for women receiving nurse case management (Breast-conserving surgery, adjuvant radiation, radiation therapy, axillary dissection and breast reconstruction surgery).

Better arm function and higher satisfaction in intervention group.

McCorkle [15]

Single centerRCT

375

Old patients (≥60y) newly diagnosed with solid cancer

60–92

4-week home-based case management by nurse

Length of survival

- Longer survival in intervention group than in usual care group (p = 0.001).

Survival advantage for intervention group in late stage patients.

Galvao [8]

Two-arm single center RCT

57

Prostate cancer patient without bone metastases treated by AST (≥2 months)

≈70y

12-week progressive resistance and aerobic training (2/week) by an exercise physiologist

Muscle mass, strength, physical function, QoL

- Significant change in total body lean mass, muscle strength and endurance (p < 0.05). Change in QoL for general health (p = 0.022), vitality (p = 0.019) and physical health composite score (p = 0.02).

  1. *QoL quality of Life, RCT randomized controlled trial