Disability and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly cancer survivors: Case-control study in the Korean population

• Cancer and treatment of cancer in elderly cancer patients (ECPs) may increase functional disabilities and reduce quality-of-life.
• Relative to the general elderly population (GEP), ECPs were more dependent on others for completion of daily activities and experienced more pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression.
• ECPs were independent in performing self-care and handling of financial responsibilities.
• Health provides should be aware that ECPs' initiative for self-care be utilized for improving the daily activities and psychological distress.

PurposeAdvanced age is a significant risk factor for cancer and functional disabilities increase with age. The purpose of this case-control study of Korean individuals was to determine the effect of cancer and cancer treatment on functional disability and quality of life (QOL). Thus, we compared community-dwelling elderly cancer patients (ECPs) with individuals from the general elderly population (GEP) who never had diagnoses of cancer.MethodsWe selected 1776 ECP who were at least 65 years-old from the 2008 Korean Community Health Survey data and used propensity score matching to randomly select 1766 individuals from the GEP who closely resembled the ECPs. Functional disability was measured using the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and QOL was measured by the EuroQol Group EQ-5D.ResultsECPs were more dependent in preparation of food, doing laundry, and shopping (IADL scale), and in mobility and usual activities (EQ-5D). Although ECP had more problems with pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression, they were more independent in self-care and handling of financial responsibilities.ConclusionsECPs had multiple physical and psychological symptoms that adversely affected functional disability and QOL, but higher functional ability, such as self-care and handling of financial responsibilities. Promotion of self-care by ECPs is pivotal for effective management in community practice.