Detection of alcohol abuse in older patients with cancer: The integration of alcohol screening questionnaires in the comprehensive geriatric assessment

AbstractObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an alcohol screening questionnaire as part of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) by reporting the prevalence of alcohol abuse in a group of older patients with cancer in a Belgian cancer centre. Materials and MethodsPatients were recruited at the Geriatric Oncology Clinic of the Kortrijk Cancer Centre and were evaluated by use of a CGA. Two alcohol screening questionnaires were integrated into the CGA: the Cutdown–Annoyed–Guilty–Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–screening version (AUDIT-C). Results193 patients with a mean age of 77.7 years were included in the analyses. Abnormal scores on the CAGE were detected in 6.3% of males and 1.2% of women. Abnormal results on the AUDIT-C were noticed in 30.0% of men, and in 21.7% of women. A regression analysis could not find a significant effect of the CAGE questionnaire when entered as predictor for CGA domain scores. Regarding the AUDIT-C, significant results were detected for predicting the score of the Geriatric-8 questionnaire and polypharmacy in men, and the Independent Activities of Daily Living questionnaire in women. No association with one-year survival was detected for either alcohol screening questionnaire. DiscussionIt is feasible to implement an alcohol screening questionnaire as part of a CGA as results indicated a rather high level of alcohol abuse in this cohort.