HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript
J Natl Compr Canc Netw. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 October 01. Published in final edited form as: J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2015 October ; 13(10): 1233–1239.
Anemia and Functional Disability in Older Adults with Cancer Cynthia Owusu, MD1, Harvey Cohen, MD8, Tao Feng, PhD2, William Tew, MD3, Supriya G. Mohile, MD4, Heidi D. Klepin, MD5, Cary P. Gross, MD6, Ajeet Gajra, MD7, Stuart M. Lichtman, MD3, and Arti Hurria, MD2 On behalf of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) 1Case
Author Manuscript
2City
Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
3Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
4University 5Wake
of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
6Cancer
Outcomes Public Policy and Effectiveness (COPPER) Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 7Upstate
8Duke
Medical University and VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
University School of Medicine
Author Manuscript
Abstract Objectives—Anemia is associated with functional disability among older adults in general. However, the relationship between anemia and functional disability has not been well characterized among older adults with cancer. Therefore, we examined the association between anemia and functional disability in patients ≥ age 65 with cancer. Methods—We conducted cross-sectional analysis of data derived from a multi-center prospective study of 500 cancer patients aged ≥ 65 years. The primary outcome was functional disability at chemotherapy initiation, defined as the need for assistance with at least one instrumental activity of daily living. Anemia (World Health Organization criteria) was defined as hemoglobin (Hb)
J Natl Compr Canc Netw. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 October 01. Published in final edited form as: J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2015 October ; 13(10): 1233–1239.
Anemia and Functional Disability in Older Adults with Cancer Cynthia Owusu, MD1, Harvey Cohen, MD8, Tao Feng, PhD2, William Tew, MD3, Supriya G. Mohile, MD4, Heidi D. Klepin, MD5, Cary P. Gross, MD6, Ajeet Gajra, MD7, Stuart M. Lichtman, MD3, and Arti Hurria, MD2 On behalf of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) 1Case
Author Manuscript
2City
Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
3Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
4University 5Wake
of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
6Cancer
Outcomes Public Policy and Effectiveness (COPPER) Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 7Upstate
8Duke
Medical University and VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
University School of Medicine
Author Manuscript
Abstract Objectives—Anemia is associated with functional disability among older adults in general. However, the relationship between anemia and functional disability has not been well characterized among older adults with cancer. Therefore, we examined the association between anemia and functional disability in patients ≥ age 65 with cancer. Methods—We conducted cross-sectional analysis of data derived from a multi-center prospective study of 500 cancer patients aged ≥ 65 years. The primary outcome was functional disability at chemotherapy initiation, defined as the need for assistance with at least one instrumental activity of daily living. Anemia (World Health Organization criteria) was defined as hemoglobin (Hb)
