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

NCT ID: NCT07159321

Last Updated: 2025-09-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-09-30

Brief 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

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Females aged 60 years and older, who are newly diagnosed with pathologically proven breast inva

Comprehensive geriatric assessment

Intervention Type: OTHER

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).

European Organization for Research and Treatment-Quality of life questionnaire

Intervention Type: OTHER

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).

Clinical Frailty Scale

Intervention Type: OTHER

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.

Interventions

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).

Intervention Type: 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).

Intervention Type: 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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Females aged 60 years and older
• Newly diagnosed with pathologically proven breast invasive ductal or lobular carcinoma

Exclusion Criteria

• History of cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders
• Delirium during assessment using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM test)
• Initiation of chemotherapy before the baseline assessment
• Severe hearing or visual impairment preventing completion of assessment
• Other malignancies (second primary)
• Other breast malignancies (e.g., sarcoma)
• End-organ failure (e.g., renal failure, liver cell failure)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ain Shams University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Shorouq Alaaeldin Abdelaziz Elsayed

assistant lecturer of Geriatric medicine

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Doha Rasheedy, MD

Role: CONTACT

doharasheedy@med.asu.edu.eg

+201001193544

Other Identifiers

palliative 2025-6

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id