Geriatric co-management linked to lower delirium odds
Compared with usual care, co-management was associated with lower odds of hospice or in-hospital death (OR 0.27) and delirium (OR 0.29).
Gerontology
Among older adults undergoing cancer surgery, geriatric co-management was associated with lower odds of hospice or in-hospital death and delirium than care without geriatric involvement. Researchers analyzed 4,359 cases from July 2018 to August 2024, matching 309 cases in each group using propensity scores. Brown University Health launched the oncology co-management program in 2021.
The odds ratio for hospice or in-hospital death was 0.27 (95% CI 0.12–0.61). For delirium, measured by a positive CAM assessment, it was 0.29 (95% CI 0.11–0.73). Hospital stays were longer with co-management: 8.2 ± 15.4 versus 6.2 ± 5.6 days. Co-managed patients were less likely to go home and more likely to enter skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation facilities. The difference in ICU admissions was not statistically significant.
Why it matters
The findings suggest geriatric expertise may benefit older adults undergoing cancer surgery. Longer stays and fewer home discharges may reflect more appropriate discharge planning, as the authors suggest.
Caveats
This observational comparison cannot establish causation, despite propensity score matching. The mortality-related outcome combined hospice with in-hospital death, rather than measuring death alone.
The paper
Impact of a Geriatric Co-management Service on Surgical Cancer Care for Older Adults
Show 3 more authors
Dean Batteson, Lynn McNicoll, Stefan Gravenstein,Gerontology · 5 Oct 2026