All eight domains were predictive for at least one of the investigated outcomes but the results were quite variable across studies .
Physical function and nutritional status were the domains most often associated with mortality and systemic treatment-related outcomes , and the domain physical function was most often associated with postoperative complications .
Overall , this review demonstrates that the GA should minimally consist of physical function and nutritional status , when the aim is to predict patients -related outcomes of older patients with cancer , although the results are quite heterogeneous .
BACKGROUND A geriatric assessment ( GA ) is increasingly used to help guide treatment decisions in older patients with cancer .
However , there is no consensus regarding which domains should be included in the GA .
In addition , the field of geriatric oncology moves very fast and as a result many new studies have been published since the last review in 2015 .
Therefore , the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate which domains of the GA could predict patient-related treatment outcomes of older patients with cancer and thereby should be included in a GA .
Frailty and malnutrition predictive of mortality risk in older patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy.
INTRODUCTION In general , geriatric assessment ( GA ) provides the combined information on comorbidity and functional , nutritional and psychosocial status and may be predictive for mortality outcome of cancer patients . The impact of geriatric assessment on the outcome of older patients with colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy is largely unknown . METHODS In a prospect i ve study , 143 patients with colorectal cancer who were 70years and older were assessed before chemotherapy  by Mini Nutritional Assessment ( MNA ) , Informant Question naire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly ( IQCODE ) , Groningen Frailty Indicator ( GFI ) and Mini Mental State Examination ( MMSE ) . RESULTS Fifty-four ( 38 % ) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 89 ( 62 % ) patients received palliative chemotherapy .  Malnutrition and frailty were prevalent in 39 ( 27 % , assessed by MNA ) and 34 ( 24 % , by GFI ) patients , respectively ; whereas cognitive impairment was prevalent in 19 ( 13 % , by IQCODE ) and 11 ( 8 % , by MMSE ) patients , respectively . In patients with palliative chemotherapy , poor MNA scores were associated with receiving less than 4cycles of chemotherapy ( p=0.008 ) . Poor MNA and GFI scores were associated with increased hazard ratios ( HR ) for mortality for patients with palliative chemotherapy : HR=2.76 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 1.60 - 4.77 ; p<0.001 ) and HR=2.72 ( 95 % CI : 1.58 - 4.69 ; p<0.001 ) , respectively , after adjustment for several clinical parameters . CONCLUSIONS Malnutrition and frailty were strongly associated with an increased mortality risk in patients who underwent palliative chemotherapy . Furthermore , a poor score on MNA was predictive for less tolerance of chemotherapy . Our findings may help the oncologist in future decision making and advice for elderly patients with colorectal cancer
All eight domains were predictive for at least one of the investigated outcomes but the results were quite variable across studies .
Physical function and nutritional status were the domains most often associated with mortality and systemic treatment-related outcomes , and the domain physical function was most often associated with postoperative complications .
Overall , this review demonstrates that the GA should minimally consist of physical function and nutritional status , when the aim is to predict patients -related outcomes of older patients with cancer , although the results are quite heterogeneous .
BACKGROUND A geriatric assessment ( GA ) is increasingly used to help guide treatment decisions in older patients with cancer .
However , there is no consensus regarding which domains should be included in the GA .
In addition , the field of geriatric oncology moves very fast and as a result many new studies have been published since the last review in 2015 .
Therefore , the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate which domains of the GA could predict patient-related treatment outcomes of older patients with cancer and thereby should be included in a GA .