Comparison of Geriatric Assessment Tools in Patients with Solid Malignancies

Abstract

Background: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) are well known screening tools for older cancer patients. However, the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment score (CGA), which is a multidimensional evaluation of the older patient, is less used in practice. Few comparative studies were done before and there is no screening tool uniformly used worldwide. Methods: One hundred patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed with solid tumors were interviewed before starting their first chemotherapy cycle. The scores of ECOG PS, KPS and CGA were filled. The statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test. Results: No correlation was found between CGA fragile on one side and ECOG ≥2/ KPS ≤70% on the other side with a p-value of 0.9 and 0.48 respectively. Forty three per cent of patients had a good performance status according to ECOG PS and KPS despite a fragile CGA. Conclusion: KPS and ECOG PS may not be reliable for treatment decision making in the older oncology patient.