The impact of cancer on the physical function of the elderly and their utilization of health care

✍ Scribed by Randall S. Stafford; Philip L. Cyr

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 87 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19971115)80:10<1973::aid-cncr15>3.0.co;2-v

✦ Synopsis

Beneficiary Survey. Of these, 1647 reported being diagnosed by a physician as ton, Massachusetts.

having a malignancy that was not of the skin. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of functional limitation, poor health status, health care utilization, and patient satisfaction with medical care.

RESULTS.

Cancer was reported by 17% of the elderly. Individuals with cancer reported poorer health, more limitations of the activities of daily living (ADLs) and the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and greater health care utilization than individuals without cancer. For individuals with cancer, difficulty walking (38%) and getting out of a chair (21%) were the most commonly reported ADL limitations, whereas difficulty completing heavy housework (34%) and shopping (17%) were the most common IADL limitations. Carcinomas of the lung, prostate, and colon independently predicted poorer health status. Lung carcinoma was independently associated with more ADL limitations. Lung, bladder, and prostate carcinomas predicted increased health care utilization. Overall, cancer patients were at least as satisfied with their medical care as those without cancer.

CONCLUSIONS.

Cancer increased the use of health care resources and modestly reduced physical function. By identifying specific connections between cancer and physical function, these findings have implications for improving cancer care.