Abstract
Treatment of older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains challenging despite advances in therapeutic options. Older adults of the same chronologic age can differ widely from one another based on underlying health status and physiologic reserve. Decision making and management cannot be optimized using strategies based on chronologic age. The heterogeneity of aging is not captured by performance status alone but requires additional evaluation of characteristics such as physical function, comorbidity, cognitive function, emotional health, and social support. Geriatric assessment is a multidimensional strategy used to provide a comprehensive evaluation of health status that can inform decision making and management for older adults with acute leukemia. This talk will provide an overview of available evidence addressing the role of geriatric assessment and highlight the next steps for a research agenda to support personalized care for older adults with AML from diagnosis through survivorship.
Supplementary Material
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Contribution: K.P.L. and H.D.K. contributed to the concept, writing, editing, and final approval of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest disclosure: H.D.K. contributes to UpToDate on assessment strategies for older adults with AML and is an unpaid scientific consultant to Genentech on geriatric assessment in AML. K.P.L. declares no competing financial interests.
Correspondence: Heidi D. Klepin, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157; e-mail: hklepin@wakehealth.edu.
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