A systematic review on fall prevention in older patients with cancer and cancer survivors

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is one of the most often seen, but often undertreated, sequelae in survivors of cancer. Also, this population often shows significant nutritional deficiencies, which can affect quality of life, general health status, and even risk of relapse. Given the influence of nutrition on brain plasticity and function, which in turn is associated with chronic pain in the population with cancer, it becomes relevant to focus on the association between pain and nutritional aspects in this population. OBJECTIVE: To identify relevant evidence regarding nutrition and chronic pain in patients with cancer/survivors of cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched for interventional and experimental studies that included patients with cancer /survivors of cancer with chronic pain, a nutrition-related observation/examination, and a pain-related outcome. Studies that complied with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were screened for methodological quality and risk of bias by using the Qualsyst (standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research) tool. RESULTS: The 2 included studies entailed uncontrolled trials which examined different nutritional supplements usage in various patients with cancer (breast, gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers). One study evaluated the effects of vitamin C, but did not report a change in pain outcomes. The other study, looking at the nutritional supplements glucosamine and chondroitin, found an improvement in pain after 12- and 24 weeks. LIMITATIONS: The limitations to the generalization of these results include the insufficient amount of eligible studies and diversity in therapeutic interventions and participant groups. CONCLUSION: The association between nutrition and chronic pain in patients with cancer /survivors of cancer is not well documented. The available studies are uncontrolled, and are therefore limited to draw firm conclusions. Additional research is highly needed, and a research agenda is proposed within this paper. KEY WORDS: Survivors of cancer, chronic pain, nutrition, diet

Download Full-text

Competing Risks in Older Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review of Geriatric Oncology Trials

JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute ◽

10.1093/jnci/djy111 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 110 (8) ◽

pp. 825-830 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nikki Burdett ◽

Andrew D Vincent ◽

Michael O’Callaghan ◽

Ganessan Kichenadasse

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Competing Risks ◽

Older Patients ◽

Geriatric Oncology ◽

Patients With Cancer

Download Full-text

Dealing with the lack of evidence to treat depression in older patients with cancer: French Societies of Geriatric Oncology (SOFOG) and PsychoOncology (SFFPO) position paper based on a systematic review

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-020-05682-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 563-571

Author(s):

Bérengère Beauplet ◽

Ophélie Soulie ◽

Jean-Yves Niemier ◽

Cécile Pons-Peyneau ◽

Drifa Belhadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Patients ◽

Geriatric Oncology ◽

Position Paper ◽

Patients With Cancer

Download Full-text

The effect of exercise-based interventions on health-related quality of life and physical function in older patients with cancer receiving medical antineoplastic treatments: a systematic review

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s11556-020-00250-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marta Kramer Mikkelsen ◽

Carsten Bogh Juhl ◽

Cecilia Margareta Lund ◽

Mary Jarden ◽

Anders Vinther ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Exercise Therapy ◽

Older Patients ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Antineoplastic Treatment

Abstract Older patients with cancer are underrepresented in trials investigating the effect of exercise therapy. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of exercise therapy during medical antineoplastic treatment in older patients (≥ 65 years) with cancer. A systematic review following the Cochrane guidelines was performed. Randomized controlled trials were identified through a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL up to December 2019. Study selection was performed independently by two reviewers. Four randomized controlled trials published between 2014 and 2019 were included comprising a total of 412 participants. Most participants were diagnosed with breast, prostate or colorectal cancer. The studies were characterized by large differences in design, interventions and outcomes, which prevented meta-analyses. The interventions ranged from 4 weeks to 12 months and involved both supervised and unsupervised exercise programs. Some evidence of beneficial effects from the interventions were documented on physical function, muscle strength, physical activity and cognitive function. No evidence of effects was found for health-related quality of life, aerobic capacity, body composition, cancer-related symptoms and side effects, or for any clinical outcomes. No adverse events were reported. Exercise therapy seems to be safe and feasible in older patients with cancer. However, due to a limited number of studies, small sample sizes and heterogeneity across study design, the effects of exercise in older patients with cancer receiving medical antineoplastic treatment are inconclusive.

Download Full-text

Falls and potential therapeutic interventions among elderly and older adult patients with cancer: a systematic review

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v21i4.34 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1776-83

Author(s):

Walid Kamal Abdelbasset ◽

Gopal Nambi ◽

Shereen H Elsayed ◽

Ahmad M Osailan ◽

Marwa M Eid

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Older Adult ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Incidence Risk

Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review for previous publications that have assessed the incidence, risk factors, and favorable procedures to prevent and manage falls among cancer survivors of elderly and older adults. Materials: This systematic review was undertook using PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Database of clinical studies and systematic reviews to determine the incidence, risk factors, favorable inpatient and outpatient management, and non-pharmacological interventions for falls among elderly and older adult patients with cancer from 2010 to October, 2020. Results: After the comprehensive screening, clinical studies, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and established guidelines were included in this review. Only 5 clinical studies (3 randomized and 2 single-arm studies), 5 systematic reviews, and 6 established guidelines were considered eligible. The five systematic reviews provide risk factors of falls and the 6 guidelines provide assessment & prevention modalities of falls, however, the 6 clinical studies provide the non-pharmacological intervention for falling among cancer survivors. Many factors associated are demonstrated among wide range of elderly individuals.Earlier falls were reliably listed as an important risk factor of falls in the two inpatient and outpatient environments including both general older people and geriatric cancer populations. Conclusions: This review concludes that the assessment of falls among older individuals with cancer is the most important way for determining who could need additional observation and treatment program. Health professions involving physical therapy and occupational therapy have an important function for promoting health well-being in elderly and older adults with cancer. Keywords: Cancer; falls; elderly; older adults, risk factors, intervention.

Download Full-text