Onkológia 6/2023

Toxicity of oncological treatment in geriatric patients

Geriatric patients are part of the daily practice of oncologists, and the geriatric patient population will grow rapidly. Patients in this age group are underrepresented in clinical trials that set standards in oncology practice, including treatment toxicity. By choosing the appropriate treatment for geriatric patients, it is possible to optimize the treatment regimen and reduce the toxicity of antitumor therapy. Frailty is often defined by a decline in bodily functions due to aging and increased susceptibility to health problems. Assessment of frailty in older people is often intuitive in practice based on clinical experience. A geriatric patient is defined by the level of health potential and functional status. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) should be taken into account – functional status, comorbidities, mental health, social support, nutritional status, Charlson comorbidity index (quantitative and comparative impact of each disease in relation to overall health status).

Keywords: toxicity, oncological treatment, geriatrics