Symptomatology and loss of physical functioning among geriatric patients with lung cancer

In this study of 129 geriatric patients with lung cancer, we investigated h ow symptom severity varied according to treatment type, stage of disease, a nd gender; how change in physical functioning (prediagnosis versus post-hos pital discharge) was predicted by symptomatology, prior physical functionin g, comorbidity, and age; and whether differences exist according to stage o f disease, treatment status, or gender. Data were gathered through patient interviews and audits of patient records. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tech niques revealed that there were no significant differences in average sympt om severity scores by gender, treatment categories, or stages of disease. S ignificant predictors of loss of physical functioning were symptom severity , prior physical functioning and patient age. Characteristics of a profile for elderly lung cancer patients at high risk of suffering substantial loss es in physical functioning include higher prior levels of physical function ing, higher levels of current symptomatology, and lower age. J Pain Symptom Manage 2000;19:249-256. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2000.