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Dr Victoria Stiebel
Geriatrician, Taranaki Hospital Victoria is in her first year as a Geriatrician at Taranaki Base Hospital. She completed her training in July 2021.
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Predicting Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Adults – A Validation Study of the Cancer and Aging Research Group Score in Taranaki, New Zealand
Geriatric assessment prior to chemotherapy in older patients with cancer has been shown to improve outcomes. The Cancer and Aging Research Group developed a tool known as the “CARG chemo-toxicity calculator” that incorporates eleven variables to produce a score that predicts the probability of chemotherapy toxicity.
Aim: To test the CARG chemo-toxicity calculator in a New Zealand population.
Method: Single-centre prospective observational cohort study. We approached consecutive patients over 65 years old who were due to start chemotherapy for cancer. The first 100 who consented to take part were included from February 2019 to July 2020. A CARG score was calculated for each patient at the outset and then toxicities were recorded and graded throughout their treatment. The results were then analysed to assess the accuracy of each patient’s CARG score.
Results: The population recruited was homogenous (90% NZ European). The CARG score was reasonably accurate in predicting chemotherapy toxicity with a statistically significant similarity to the published CARG score risks (p = 0.004).
Conclusion: The CARG score is a reasonable tool for predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older people but more research is required in the New Zealand setting given this study’s lack of ethnic diversity.
Geriatric assessment prior to chemotherapy in older patients with cancer has been shown to improve outcomes. The Cancer and Aging Research Group developed a tool known as the “CARG chemo-toxicity calculator” that incorporates eleven variables to produce a score that predicts the probability of chemotherapy toxicity.
Aim: To test the CARG chemo-toxicity calculator in a New Zealand population.
Method: Single-centre prospective observational cohort study. We approached consecutive patients over 65 years old who were due to start chemotherapy for cancer. The first 100 who consented to take part were included from February 2019 to July 2020. A CARG score was calculated for each patient at the outset and then toxicities were recorded and graded throughout their treatment. The results were then analysed to assess the accuracy of each patient’s CARG score.
Results: The population recruited was homogenous (90% NZ European). The CARG score was reasonably accurate in predicting chemotherapy toxicity with a statistically significant similarity to the published CARG score risks (p = 0.004).
Conclusion: The CARG score is a reasonable tool for predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older people but more research is required in the New Zealand setting given this study’s lack of ethnic diversity.
