Age and co-morbidity in cancer patients: a population-based approach.
There is now clear evidence that the prevalence of co-morbidity among older cancer patients is high and that older patients (with comorbidity) are often treated less aggressively, which seems to have a negative influence on survival. However, would outcomes really improve if more patients were treated, according to the guidelines that were developed on the basis of results in groups of younger patients without co-morbidity? Would more complications occur in older patients with co-morbidity? If that is the case, is it possible to develop special treatment regimens for older cancer patients with co-morbidity and adapt the guidelines? It remains relevant to study the influence of age and co-morbidity on toxicity from treatment, quality of life and prognosis in unselected groups of patients.