Randomized controlled trial of geriatric consultation versus standard care in older adults with hematologic malignancies.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial in older adults with hematologic malignancies to determine the impact of geriatrician consultation embedded in our oncology clinic alongside standard care. From February 2015 to May 2018, transplant-ineligible patients age ii75 years who presented for initial consultation for lymphoma, leukemia, or multiple myeloma at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA) were eligible. Pre-frail and frail patients, classified based on phenotypic and deficitaccumulation approaches, were randomized to receive either standard oncologic care with or without consultation with a geriatrician. The primary outcome was 1-year overall survival. Secondary outcomes included unplanned care utilization within 6 months of follow-up and documented end of life (EOL) goals of care discussions. Clinicians were surveyed as to their impressions of geriatric consultation. One hundred sixty patients were randomized to either geriatric consultation plus standard care (n = 60) or standard care alone (n = 100). Median age was 80.4 years (SD = 4.2). Of those randomized to geriatric consultation, 48 (80%) completed at least one visit with a geriatrician. Consultation did not improve survival at one year compared to standard care (difference: 2.9%, 95% CI = -9.5% to 15.2%, p = 0.65), and did not significantly reduce the incidence of ED visits, hospitalizations, or days in hospital. Consultation did improve the odds of having EOL goals of care discussions (odds ratio = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.03 to 9.41) and was valued by surveyed hematologiconcology clinicians, with 62.9%-88.2% rating consultation as useful in the management of several geriatric domains.