Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review
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, an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Acta Oncologica |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42602 |
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| author | Franziska Springer Ayumu Matsuoka Kyoko Obama Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Yosuke Uchitomi Maiko Fujimori |
| author_facet | Franziska Springer Ayumu Matsuoka Kyoko Obama Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Yosuke Uchitomi Maiko Fujimori |
| author_sort | Franziska Springer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3a8bea8e97146b9babb88f4ccc5c68c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1651-226X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Oncologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3a8bea8e97146b9babb88f4ccc5c68c2025-08-20T03:10:38ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2025-04-016410.2340/1651-226X.2025.42602Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping reviewFranziska Springer0Ayumu Matsuoka1Kyoko Obama2Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6872-9805Yosuke Uchitomi4Maiko Fujimori5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1639-3390Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, GermanyDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, JapanDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Cancer Survivorship and Digital Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, JapanBackground: 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. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42602cancerquality of lifeolder adults with cancergeriatricunmet needs |
| spellingShingle | Franziska Springer Ayumu Matsuoka Kyoko Obama Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Yosuke Uchitomi Maiko Fujimori Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review Acta Oncologica cancer quality of life older adults with cancer geriatric unmet needs |
| title | Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review |
| title_full | Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review |
| title_short | Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review |
| title_sort | quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs a scoping review |
| topic | cancer quality of life older adults with cancer geriatric unmet needs |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42602 |
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