{"title":"Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review.","authors":"Franziska Springer, Ayumu Matsuoka, Kyoko Obama, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Yosuke Uchitomi, Maiko Fujimori","doi":"10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42602","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Older patients form the largest group of cancer patients yet remain underrepresented in clinical research. This scoping review aims to synthesize findings on quality of life (QoL) in older adults with cancer, comparing them to younger counterparts and older individuals without cancer, and identifying associated factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed and PsychINFO databases were searched for articles published until January 2024. Studies were included with exclusively older adults with cancer (≥ 65 years), age-mixed samples (mean/median ≥ 70 years), or that report results separately for older and younger adults with cancer. Out of 6, 397 identified studies, 87 met the inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most studies were cross-sectional, conducted in 14 countries with a mean age of 74.2 years. Physical QoL (PQoL) demonstrates an age-related decline, primarily influenced by comorbidity burden, physical activity, and lifestyle. In contrast, mental QoL (MQoL) remained stable or increased with advancing age, reflecting resilience and effective coping by older patients. While cognitive and role functioning tended to show stable or declining values with age, findings regarding social functioning were mixed. Socioeconomic factors, e.g. education, income, or marital status, mainly impacted MQoL, as well as other QoL domains. Symptom management and social support represent unmet needs that contribute to QoL impairments. Older adults with cancer underreport symptoms they perceive as normal for their age, experience ageism in healthcare, and reduced social participation.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>Comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care is essential for older adults with cancer, focusing on the prevention of functional health decline, geriatric assessment, socioeconomic health disparities, and enhancing symptom management.</p>","PeriodicalId":7110,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oncologica","volume":"64 ","pages":"516-526"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12012652/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Oncologica","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42602","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Older patients form the largest group of cancer patients yet remain underrepresented in clinical research. This scoping review aims to synthesize findings on quality of life (QoL) in older adults with cancer, comparing them to younger counterparts and older individuals without cancer, and identifying associated factors.
Methods: PubMed and PsychINFO databases were searched for articles published until January 2024. Studies were included with exclusively older adults with cancer (≥ 65 years), age-mixed samples (mean/median ≥ 70 years), or that report results separately for older and younger adults with cancer. Out of 6, 397 identified studies, 87 met the inclusion criteria.
Results: Most studies were cross-sectional, conducted in 14 countries with a mean age of 74.2 years. Physical QoL (PQoL) demonstrates an age-related decline, primarily influenced by comorbidity burden, physical activity, and lifestyle. In contrast, mental QoL (MQoL) remained stable or increased with advancing age, reflecting resilience and effective coping by older patients. While cognitive and role functioning tended to show stable or declining values with age, findings regarding social functioning were mixed. Socioeconomic factors, e.g. education, income, or marital status, mainly impacted MQoL, as well as other QoL domains. Symptom management and social support represent unmet needs that contribute to QoL impairments. Older adults with cancer underreport symptoms they perceive as normal for their age, experience ageism in healthcare, and reduced social participation.
Interpretation: Comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care is essential for older adults with cancer, focusing on the prevention of functional health decline, geriatric assessment, socioeconomic health disparities, and enhancing symptom management.
期刊介绍：
Acta Oncologica is a journal for the clinical oncologist and accepts articles within all fields of clinical cancer research. Articles on tumour pathology, experimental oncology, radiobiology, cancer epidemiology and medical radio physics are also welcome, especially if they have a clinical aim or interest. Scientific articles on cancer nursing and psychological or social aspects of cancer are also welcomed. Extensive material may be published as Supplements, for which special conditions apply.
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