Frailty and Health-related Quality of Life in Older Women With Breast Carcinoma

Summary

This study addresses a critical gap in the care of older women with breast cancer, a population often underrepresented in clinical research despite their increased vulnerability to treatment-related complications. By examining the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life (QOL), the study aims to provide evidence-based insights into how geriatric assessments can guide personalized treatment decisions, ensuring that therapeutic benefits outweigh risks. Given that older adults prioritize QOL over survival gains, understanding the impact of frailty on their well-being can help clinicians optimize care plans, reduce adverse outcomes, and improve overall patient-centered outcomes. The findings may also inform the integration of routine geriatric assessments in oncology practice, ultimately enhancing the management of older cancer patients in resource-limited settings like Egypt.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer Females
• Frailty

Interventions

OTHER

Comprehensive geriatric assessment

Functional status will be evaluated using Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (assessing bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, and continence; Katz, 1970) and Instrumental ADL (IADL) (assessing shopping, cooking, medication management, phone use, housework, laundry, transportation, and finances; Lawton \& Brody, 1969). Nutritional status will be measured via the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) (Arabic version; Abd-Al-Atty et al., 2012), a 6-item tool (appetite, weight loss, mobility, illness, neuropsychological issues, BMI) scored 0-14, classifying patients as well-nourished (≥12), at risk (8-11), or malnourished (0-7; Rubenstein et al., 2001). Cognition will be assessed using the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam (Arabic version; Abdelrahamn et al., 2014), a 30-point test evaluating calculation, orientation, memory, fluency, and visuospatial function, with dementia thresholds at \<20 (\<12 years education) or \<21 (≥12 years; Tariq et al., 2006).

OTHER

European Organization for Research and Treatment-Quality of life questionnaire

Quality of life assessment by European Organization for Research and Treatment-Quality of life questionnaire and breast cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-C30)and QLQ-BR23) EORTC QLQ-C30 is a validated tool designed to measure cancer patients' physical, psychological and social functions. It consists of 30 items measuring Global Health status (2 items), Functional scales (15 items) and Symptoms scales/items (13 items). Items were measured using a 4-point Likert Scale ranging from Not at all (1) to Very much (4). EORTC-BR23 consists of 23 items which measure two main scales "Functional Scale (8 items) and "Symptoms scales (15 items). Items measured using 4-point Likert Scale ranging from Not at all (1) to Very much (4).

OTHER

Clinical Frailty Scale

Frailty will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), a validated and widely used tool developed by (Rockwood et al., 2005). The CFS is a 9-point ordinal scale that categorizes older adults based on their level of physical fitness, functional independence, and comorbidities, ranging from 1 indicate very fit to 9 indicate terminally ill. Participants were evaluated by trained clinicians based on their clinical judgment, incorporating information from patient interviews. The scale provides a practical and reliable measure of frailty in geriatric populations and has demonstrated strong predictive validity for adverse health outcomes including hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ain Shams University

  lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-01

Primary Completion

2026-08-30

Completion

2026-09-30