Old and vulnerable


Geriatric Vulnerability Score Validated for Use in Managing Care of Older Patients With Ovarian Cancer
https://tinyurl.com/y2s3hgkf

It is well known that elderly patients have worse survival outcomes from ovarian cancer. In Australia patients aged 75 or over have a 5 years survival rate of 21% compared to 52% for the young.

A measure of vulnerability; the geriatric vulnerability score (GVS) has been identified. This measures serum protein, circulating lymphocytes, physical activity and depression and assigns a score of 0 for normal 1 for abnormal, giving a maximum GVS of 4.

With a score of 3 or more the overall survival hazard ratio is 2.94 meaning that these patients are three times more likely than patients of the same age to die of the disease. This may be a significant consideration when choosing appropriate therapy.



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