Older cancer patients experience an elevated treatment load due to age-related health complications
In a recent study published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, researchers from Geisinger's Research Institute have shed light on the treatment burden experienced by older adults with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, especially those living in rural areas.
The study assessed 73,395 Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older who had been diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Nearly two-thirds of the patients had multiple co-existing chronic conditions at the time of diagnosis. The research found that having multiple chronic conditions had the largest effect on treatment burden, with each additional condition increasing the average number of health system contact days by 13%. The mean treatment burden for the group was 8.9 days.
The study, led by a team from Geisinger, underscores the need for interventions that reduce treatment burden among older adults with cancer, particularly in rural areas. Regardless of the number of chronic conditions reported, rural patients consistently had higher treatment burden than their urban counterparts.
Geisinger, a health system based in Pennsylvania, is committed to making better health easier for patients age 65 and older and those with chronic conditions. Through programs like 65 Forward Health Centers and Geisinger at Home, they are providing personalized primary care and wellness services for Geisinger Gold members, their health plan with over half a million members. Geisinger at Home brings care into the home for Geisinger Gold members with certain chronic conditions.
Geisinger employs over 1,600 employed physicians and nearly 24,000 people. The health system includes nine hospital campuses and has a Research Institute, as well as the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Geisinger contributes billions of dollars annually to its hometown economies in Pennsylvania.
The study related to this article was published under the DOI 10.1016/j.jgo.2021.04.005. The research was led by Prof. Dr. Falk Büttner from the Institute for Theoretical Medicine at the University of Augsburg, and their study was published in the journal "Cell Reports Medicine".
In conclusion, the study highlights the significant impact of multiple chronic conditions on treatment burden in older adults with cancer, particularly in rural areas. Geisinger continues to strive towards improving healthcare for this demographic through innovative programs and research.
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