Frailty and the management of hematologic malignancies

Abstract

The majority of blood cancers occur in the elderly. This fact conspires with an aging population in many countries to make rigorous assessment for frailty increasingly important for hematologic oncologists. In this review, we first define frailty and its relevance for patients with hematologic malignancy. Next, we review current data regarding the effect of domains of frailty on outcomes for blood cancers including myelodysplastic syndromes, acute leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphomas such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Finally, after presenting assessment and treatment options for the practicing hematologist, we propose elements of a new research agenda for geriatric hematology: the exchange of age limits for rigorous frailty screening, development of disease-specific measures, and inclusion of functional and patient-reported outcomes alongside survival.