Work

Change in Quality of Life after a Cancer Diagnosis among a Nationally Representative Cohort of Older Adults in the US

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Age-related decreases in Quality of Life (QoL) are often compounded by comorbidities, including cancer. This study aimed to examine QoL changes before and after a new cancer diagnosis using data from the National Health and Aging Trend Study (NHATS), linked to Medicare claims (N = 136). There was a significant increase in the relative odds of fair/poor self-reported health and needing help with Activities of Daily Living. There was also a marginal increase in depression, but no change in anxiety or pain scores. Results underscore importance of considering pre-cancer QoL when making treatment decisions for older adult cancer patients.

Source: Cancer Investigation

DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2019.1645160

Authors: Rebecca M. Schwartz, Katherine A. Ornstein, Bian Liu, Naomi Alpert, Kristin G. Bevilacqua, Emanuela Taioli

Institutions: Northwell Health, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Language: English

Topic: Cancer survivorship and care

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging