Abstract

COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND ASSESSMENT OF COMORBIDITY PROFILES IN GERIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS

*Kondapaturi Venkata Naga Sai Vasavi Vyahruthi, Pravalika Vadlakonda, Sravanthi Pailla, Amir Soyel, Rathna Sree Dirshanapu

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Abstract

Aim: Comprehensive geriatric assessment can guide therapy and affect prognosis and quality of life in older cancer patients, since their clinical evaluation and treatment is influenced by conditions such as disabilities, comorbidity, and functional status. The objective is to comprehensively study, assess and evaluate the comorbidities in geriatric cancer patients. Methods: A prospective observational crosssectional study consisting of 104 study participants, aged above 65 years, diagnosed with different types of cancers were identified and included who had presence of comorbidities and the quality of life was evaluated. The grading was done by using the principle based on Charlson comorbidity index system. Results: During our comprehensive research and evaluation of comorbidity patterns in older adults with cancer, we observed a higher prevalence of comorbidities in the age range of 65-75. Among these comorbidities, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were found to be the most prevalent, regardless of the specific type of cancer the patients were diagnosed with. In our study, we found that 37 patients, accounting for 35.5% of the participants, did not experience a significant impact on their quality of life as a result of comorbidity. However, for 58 patients (55.7%), there is a low risk of developing complications or mortality due to their comorbidity. As for 9 patients (8.65%), there is a moderate risk of comorbidity burden or mortality. It is notable that when a cancer patient has more than one comorbidity, their quality of life is likely to be negatively affected. Conclusion: The most recurring comorbidity was hypertension followed by diabetes melitus, as age increases, comorbidities become more prevalent, with the 65-70 age group showing the highest incidence, followed by the 71-75 age group as well. Although this risk is present in all age groups, it is most commonly observed in 65-70 age group. Ultimately, the presence of a greater number of comorbidities has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of patients.

Keywords: Comorbidity, assessment, complications, comorbidities, quality of life.