Biopsychosocial Burden and Care Needs in Older Cancer Survivors: a Stratified Cancer Registry-Based Mixed-Methods Study With Population-Based Comparison Groups

The multicentre SurvAge study focuses on long-term and late-onset symptomatology as well as biopsychosocial risk factors and care needs among older cancer survivors. Based on a large cohort of older cancer survivors and comparison groups from the general population, the study aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for care planning and thereby help close existing gaps in the care of older long-term cancer survivors.

The study is structured into four work packages (WP):

WP 1 – Collection and analysis of quantitative data from older long-term cancer survivors regarding biopsychosocial symptomatology, burden and health care needs
WP 2 – Qualitative interviews to identify coping strategies and specific challenges faced by older long-term survivors (subsample from WP 1)
WP 3 – Comparison of data collected from long-term survivors with existing data from general population samples
WP 4 – Development of evidence-based recommendations through a consensus process and expert consultation (Delphi method)

The Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Lübeck is primarily involved in WP 1 and WP 3. The target population includes survivors with a primary diagnosis of solid or haemato-oncological cancer aged 65 to 85 years at the time of enrolment and diagnosed up to 20 years prior to participation. A total of 14,000 individuals are identified via the Schleswig-Holstein Cancer Registry and invited to participate in the study by mail. This part of the study assesses the prevalence and types of physical and psychosocial long-term and late-onset symptomatology including pain, depression, anxiety, social networks, and activities of daily living. Risk factors (e.g., multimorbidity) and quality of life are also examined (WP 1). Over the course of the study, these results are compared with datasets of population-representative cohort studies (WP 3).

The study is funded by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe).