Compared to younger adults, older adults with cancer are more likely to have age-related vulnerabilities such as functional impairment and co-existing medical conditions. They are also often on many medications. As a result, older adults are more likely to experience treatment-related toxicities. These toxicities can lead to increased healthcare utilization (e.g., hospitalization, emergency room visits), decreased quality of life and functional status, and reduced survival. In addition, a disproportionate number of older adults live in rural areas which often limit access to healthcare. Therefore, there is a need to better support older adults with hematologic malignancies during the course of their treatment to decrease treatment-related toxicities so they can continue to receive treatment. The proposed study will investigate whether digital health technologies can support older adults in various aspects of their cancer care.
This is a randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multicomponent technology-supported care delivery intervention trial in 110 older patients with hematologic malignancies [acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), multiple myeloma (MM), and diffuse large b-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)] receiving outpatient chemotherapy on treatment-related toxicities, patient-reported outcomes, healthcare utilization, and inflammatory and epigenetic markers.