Functional and cognitive impairment, social environment, frailty and adverse health outcomes in older patients with head and neck cancer, a systematic review

•The value of geriatric assessments in head and neck cancer is not evaluated yet.•Geriatric domains were prevalent in the head and neck cancer population.•Most studies had an association of a geriatric assessment with adverse outcomes.•None of the studies reported frailty or physical capacity with adverse outcomes.

ObjectivesOlder head and neck cancer patients are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes, but little is known about which geriatric assessment associates with poor outcome. The aim is to study the association of functional or cognitive impairment, social environment and frailty with adverse health outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.MethodsFour libraries were searched for studies reporting on an association of functional or cognitive impairment, social environment and frailty with adverse outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.ResultsOf 4158 identified citations, 31 articles were included. The mean age was ⩾60 years in twelve studies (39%). Geriatric conditions were prevalent: between 40 and 50% of the included participants were functional impaired, around 50% had depressive symptoms, and around 40% did not have a partner. Functional impairment was assessed in 18 studies, two studies reported on a cognitive test, eight studies examined mood and social status was depicted by 14 studies. None of the included studies addressed frailty or objectively measured physical capacity such as hand grip strength, gait speed or balance tests. In 64% of the reported associations, a decline in functional or cognitive impairment, mood or social environment was associated with adverse outcomes.ConclusionFunctional and cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms and social isolation are highly prevalent in head and neck cancer patients and associate with high risk of adverse health outcomes. In the future, these measurements may guide decision-making and customize treatments, but more research is needed to further improve and firmly establish clinical usability.