The abbreviated comprehensive geriatric assessment (aCGA) for use in the older cancer patient as a prescreen: Scoring and interpretation

The abbreviated CGA (aCGA) can be used as a prescreening assessment to identify patients who would most benefit from the complete CGA. To develop cutpoints for scoring the aCGA that are consistent with existing limitations as revealed by the full CGA. A retrospective chart review of patients at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Over 500 charts between 1995 and 2001 were reviewed on cancer patients 70 and over. Each of the four domains: functional status (activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), depression, using the geriatric depression scale (GDS), and cognition using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)) are scored separately. For the depression domain, a score of 2 or more toward depression indicates that the entire GDS be administered. For the MMSE, a score of 6 or lower indicates necessity of the entire MMSE. For the ADL/IADL, any deficit on either scale (needs assistance or complete assistance) requires further clinical evaluation using the entire instruments. These guidelines provide the clinician with parameters to target patients most likely to benefit from more intensive geriatric evaluation.