Functional capacity evaluation of the hospitalized oncogeriatric patient

Abstract

In Brazil, it is estimated that 60% of cancer patients are over 65 years old which requires an integrated action between oncology and geriatrics. This new approach shows the functional capacity as a predictor of health. The present study aims to evaluate the functional capacity and the performance of the functional systems of older adults diagnosed with cancer. This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with the elderly people, who have diagnosis of cancer, admitted to the medical clinic of Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The instruments used were: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group the Performance Status scale (ECOG-PS), the Katz scale (ABVD), the Lawton scale (IADL), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (GDS-15), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Tinetti test and the functional assessment of communication skills of the American Association of Speech-Hearing Association (ASHA FACS). Seven elderly people (convenience sample) were evaluated with their functional capacity classified between 2 and 4 in ECOG-PS scale and their average performance of 10.4 points for ABVD and 17.6 for IADL. The profile of functional systems showed average performance of 14.9 points on the MMSE; 3.3 on the GDS-15 scale; 5.5 in ASHA FACS; 12.2 seconds for the TUG and 18.5 points in the Tinetti test, revealing changes in autonomy and independence. Most of those elderly patients had changed their functional capacity because of their semi-dependence for daily activities, justified by abnormal performance in cognition, mobility and communication.