Key clinical point: A low mBI was strongly associated with poor outcomes in elderly patients with DLBCL.

Major finding: Patients with low mBI scores (< 14) had a significantly shorter overall survival than those with high scores (3-year OS, 14.2% vs. 65.2%, P < 0.001).

Study details: A retrospective study of 184 DLBCL patients age 60 years or older.

Disclosures: The authors reported there was no funding source and that they had no conflicts.

Commentary

“Objective measurements are needed to accurately assess older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Prognostic scales in DLBCL including the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index have not been helpful thus far in guiding therapeutic decisions. The modified Barthel index (mBI) is a 10-item survey of activities of daily living (ADLs) that appears to be straightforward to administer and therefore widely applicable. Drs. Ogura et al report that low mBI scores in 184 patients with DLBCL aged 60 years or older were associated with decreased overall survival. Ideally a scale like the mBI could be used to determine which treatment is appropriate for individual patients. A prospective trial that incorporates the mBI could be useful to further assess its potential utility.”

Sarah Rutherford, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine