Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study
Cognitive function can be affected by cancer and/or its treatment, and older patients are at a particular risk. In a prospective observational study including patients ≥65 years referred for radiotherapy (RT), we aimed to investigate the association between patient- and cancer-related factors and co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/7/409 |
| _version_ | 1827597510575652864 |
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| author | Guro Falk Eriksen Jūratė Šaltytė Benth Bjørn Henning Grønberg Siri Rostoft Øyvind Kirkevold Sverre Bergh Anne Hjelstuen Darryl Rolfson Marit Slaaen |
| author_facet | Guro Falk Eriksen Jūratė Šaltytė Benth Bjørn Henning Grønberg Siri Rostoft Øyvind Kirkevold Sverre Bergh Anne Hjelstuen Darryl Rolfson Marit Slaaen |
| author_sort | Guro Falk Eriksen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cognitive function can be affected by cancer and/or its treatment, and older patients are at a particular risk. In a prospective observational study including patients ≥65 years referred for radiotherapy (RT), we aimed to investigate the association between patient- and cancer-related factors and cognitive function, as evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and sought to identify groups with distinct MoCA trajectories. The MoCA was performed at baseline (T0), RT completion (T1), and 8 (T2) and 16 (T3) weeks later, with scores ranging between 0 and 30 and higher scores indicating better function. Linear regression and growth mixture models were estimated to assess associations and to identify groups with distinct MoCA trajectories, respectively. Among 298 patients with a mean age of 73.6 years (SD 6.3), the baseline mean MoCA score was 24.0 (SD 3.7). Compared to Norwegian norm data, 37.9% had cognitive impairment. Compromised cognition was independently associated with older age, lower education, and physical impairments. Four groups with distinct trajectories were identified: the very poor (6.4%), poor (8.1%), fair (37.9%), and good (47.7%) groups. The MoCA trajectories were mainly stable. We conclude that cognitive impairment was frequent but, for most patients, was not affected by RT. For older patients with cancer, and in particular for those with physical impairments, we recommend an assessment of cognitive function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:32:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-530ee9b218ce475ea2435ad6c02fa090 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:32:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-530ee9b218ce475ea2435ad6c02fa0902023-12-03T14:53:13ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292022-07-012975164517810.3390/curroncol29070409Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational StudyGuro Falk Eriksen0Jūratė Šaltytė Benth1Bjørn Henning Grønberg2Siri Rostoft3Øyvind Kirkevold4Sverre Bergh5Anne Hjelstuen6Darryl Rolfson7Marit Slaaen8The Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2313 Ottestad, NorwayThe Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2313 Ottestad, NorwayDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, NorwayInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Pb 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, NorwayThe Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2313 Ottestad, NorwayThe Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2313 Ottestad, NorwayDepartment of Internal Medicine, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Kyrre Grepps gate 11, 2819 Gjøvik, NorwayDivision of Geriatric Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, CanadaThe Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2313 Ottestad, NorwayCognitive function can be affected by cancer and/or its treatment, and older patients are at a particular risk. In a prospective observational study including patients ≥65 years referred for radiotherapy (RT), we aimed to investigate the association between patient- and cancer-related factors and cognitive function, as evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and sought to identify groups with distinct MoCA trajectories. The MoCA was performed at baseline (T0), RT completion (T1), and 8 (T2) and 16 (T3) weeks later, with scores ranging between 0 and 30 and higher scores indicating better function. Linear regression and growth mixture models were estimated to assess associations and to identify groups with distinct MoCA trajectories, respectively. Among 298 patients with a mean age of 73.6 years (SD 6.3), the baseline mean MoCA score was 24.0 (SD 3.7). Compared to Norwegian norm data, 37.9% had cognitive impairment. Compromised cognition was independently associated with older age, lower education, and physical impairments. Four groups with distinct trajectories were identified: the very poor (6.4%), poor (8.1%), fair (37.9%), and good (47.7%) groups. The MoCA trajectories were mainly stable. We conclude that cognitive impairment was frequent but, for most patients, was not affected by RT. For older patients with cancer, and in particular for those with physical impairments, we recommend an assessment of cognitive function.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/7/409Montreal Cognitive Assessmentcancer-related cognitive impairmentgeriatric oncologycognitive functionphysical impairmentfrailty |
| spellingShingle | Guro Falk Eriksen Jūratė Šaltytė Benth Bjørn Henning Grønberg Siri Rostoft Øyvind Kirkevold Sverre Bergh Anne Hjelstuen Darryl Rolfson Marit Slaaen Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study Current Oncology Montreal Cognitive Assessment cancer-related cognitive impairment geriatric oncology cognitive function physical impairment frailty |
| title | Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_full | Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_short | Cognitive Trajectories in Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy—A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_sort | cognitive trajectories in older patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy a prospective observational study |
| topic | Montreal Cognitive Assessment cancer-related cognitive impairment geriatric oncology cognitive function physical impairment frailty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/7/409 |
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