Sinha P, et al. - Experts evaluated the baseline cognition of patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) using National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored instruments of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB). Impaired objective cognition was more frequent in men, participants with p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), moderate to severe comorbidity, and hearing loss, and was more common at baseline than self-reported. Identifying patients with impaired cognition at baseline who could be vulnerable to developing additional impairment could help institute early cognitive interventions, which could lead to an improved posttreatment quality of life.

Methods

• Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study at a tertiary academic center.
• Out of 83 consecutive OPC patients newly diagnosed from September 2016 to May 2017, 16 were ineligible, 8 refused to participate, and 3 were lost to follow-up after screening, resulting in 56 study participants.
• The main outcomes were self-perceived and objective cognition measured with PROMIS and NIHTB-CB standardized T scores, respectively.
• Authors defined impairment as T scores less than 0.5 SD for PROMIS; T score less than 1.5 SD in at least 1 cognitive domain or less than 1 SD in 2 or more domains for NIHTB-CB total cognition; and T score per previously published criteria for NIHTB-CB intelligence-stratified cognition.

Results

• Among the 56 study participants (52 men, 4 women; median age, 59 years [range, 42-77 years]), 19 (34%) had a college degree, and 20 (36%) had a professional or technical occupation.
• Results stated that 30 (about 53%) were never-smokers, 26 (46%) were never-drinkers, 29 (52%) were obese, 13 (23%) had a moderate to severe comorbidity, 3 (5%) used antidepressants, and 25 (52%) had hearing loss.
• Experts observed impaired self-reported in 6 (11%), NIHTB-CB total in 18 (32%), and intelligence-stratified cognition scores in 12 (21%).
• Researchers reported that of all variables, objective impairment was more common in men (23% vs 0%) and those with p16-negative OPC (33% vs 20%), moderate to severe comorbidity (31% vs 18%), and hearing loss (31% vs 12%).