Older cancer patients experience an increase in treatment demands due to age-associated health issues
In a significant finding that underscores the importance of interventions aimed at reducing treatment burden among older adults with cancer, particularly those residing in rural areas, a team from Geisinger has published a study in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology.
The study, led by Dr. Tullika Garg, a urologic oncologist at Geisinger and the lead author, evaluated 73,395 Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older who had been diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
The research revealed that rural patients consistently had higher treatment burden than their urban counterparts, regardless of the number of chronic conditions reported. The presence of multiple co-existing conditions had the largest effect on treatment burden, with each additional condition increasing the average number of health system contact days by 13%.
Nearly two-thirds of the patients had multiple co-existing chronic conditions at the time of bladder cancer diagnosis. The study's findings are particularly relevant given that Geisinger serves over 1 million people, with over half a million members in its health plan, and employs over 1,600 physicians across nine hospital campuses.
Geisinger's commitment to research is evident in its Research Institute, and the study's DOI is 10.1016/j.jgo.2021.04.005. The institution also boasts the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
In an effort to improve health for patients age 65 and older and those with chronic conditions, Geisinger offers innovative programs like 65 Forward Health Centers and Geisinger at Home. These initiatives aim to provide comprehensive, personalised care to older patients, helping to reduce the treatment burden and improve overall health outcomes.
The study's mean treatment burden (number of days patients had contact with a health system) for the group was 8.9 days. While this may seem manageable, the increased burden for rural patients and those with multiple chronic conditions highlights the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to quality care.
In conclusion, the Geisinger-led study sheds light on the challenges faced by older adults with bladder cancer, particularly those in rural areas, and underscores the need for interventions that can reduce treatment burden and improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
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