Validation and Refinement of the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin Index in Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma: An Effective Tool for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

BACKGROUND. We aimed to validate and refine the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin (ACA) index in elderly Chinese patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and propose a more effective method for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Patients ≥65 years of age who had been diagnosed with de novo DLBCL in the Institute of Hematology, Beijing Hospital, were screened for eligibility (n = 99). RESULTS. Based on the ACA index, 39, 31, 26, and 3 patients were categorized into the “excellent,” “good,” “moderate,” and “poor” groups, respectively. The 2‐year treatment‐related mortality rate was significantly higher and the survival rates poorer in the ACA “moderate to poor” group compared with those of the ACA “good” and “excellent” groups. Multivariable model analysis identified two independent predictors of overall survival: the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale and the ACA index. IADL scores of 6 to 7 and the ACA “good” group were assigned 1 point; IADL scores ≤5 and the ACA “moderate to poor” group were assigned 2 points. Based on these data, we created a three‐category system (IADL ACA index [IACA index]): low risk, score 0; intermediate risk, score 1 to 2; and high risk, score 3 to 4. The IACA index could effectively discriminate the response rates, overall survival, and progression‐free survival rates in elderly patients with DLBCL. CONCLUSION. We observed that the ACA index could partially predict the clinical outcomes of elderly DLBCL patients in China. Based on this index, we proposed the IACA index as an effective tool for CGA in DLBCL. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most frequent types of malignant lymphoma in elderly people, and identifying patients suitable for curative therapy is critical in the improvement of clinical outcomes. Recently, some authors proposed the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin (ACA) index. Combining the use of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale and the ACA index, this article describes the IADL ACA index (IACA index), which is an effective tool for comprehensive geriatric assessment in DLBCL.