Background: Gauging fitness remains a challenge among older adults with hematologic malignancies, and interventions to restore function are lacking. We pilot a structured exercise intervention and novel biologic correlates of aging using epigenetic clocks and markers of immunosenescence to evaluate changes in function and clinical outcomes.
Methods: Older adults (n=30) with hematologic malignancy actively receiving treatment were screened and enrolled in a 6-month exercise intervention, the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP). The impact of the OEP on geriatric assessment metrics and health-related quality of life were captured. Clinical outcomes of overall survival and hospital utilization (inpatient length of stay and emergency department use) in relationship to geriatric deficits were analyzed.
Results: Older adults (median age, 75.5 years [range, 62-83 years]) actively receiving treatment were enrolled in the OEP. Instrumental activities of daily living and physical health scores (PHS) increased significantly with the OEP intervention (median PHS: visit 1, 55 [range, 0-100]; visit 2, 70 [range, 30-100]; P<.01). Patient-reported Karnofsky performance status increased significantly, and the improvement was sustained (median [range]: visit 1, 80 [40-100]; visit 3, 90 [50-100]; P=.05). Quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System [PROMIS]) improved significantly by the end of the 6-month period (median [range]: visit 1, 32.4 [19.9-47.7]; visit 3, 36.2 [19.9-47.7]; P=.01]. Enhanced measures of gait speed and balance, using the Short Physical Performance Battery scores, were associated with a 20% decrease in risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65-0.97; P=.03) and a shorter hospital length of stay (decrease of 1.29 days; 95% CI, -2.46 to -0.13; P=.03). Peripheral blood immunosenescent markers were analyzed in relationship to clinical frailty and reports of mPhenoAge epigenetic analysis are preliminarily reported. Chronologic age had no relationship to overall survival, length of stay, or emergency department utilization.
Conclusions: The OEP was effective in improving quality of life, and geriatric tools predicted survival and hospital utilization among older adults with hematologic malignancies.