Comorbidities in elderly patients with glioblastoma: a field-practice study

AIM: This single-center study evaluated the effect of comorbidities on progression-free and overall survival in elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). PATIENTS & METHODS: Comorbid conditions were identified in each patient with the modified version of the cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS). RESULTS:  Total of 118 patients with GBM were enrolled. An age of >75 years at diagnosis, high CIRS, comorbidity index and performance status play a predictive role on survival. CONCLUSION: Comorbidities play an important prognostic role in elderly patients with GBM, a factor too often neglected in clinical practice. If the prognostic role of comorbidity measured by CIRS on outcome will be confirmed, it would be interesting to add it in the algorithm for treatment choice in elderly GBM patients.