Supriya Mohile on Lack of Representation of Geriatric Patients in Clinical Trials

Supriya Mohile, MD, University of Rochester, discusses the disparity between patients on clinical trials and patients in the real world.

Patients seen in clinical trials are often the fittest patients, with few or no comorbidities. However, in the real world, patients are often older, with comorbidities and disabilities. Therefore, providers can be unsure of whether it is safe to give older patients certain treatments, as they are not the kind of patient in the trial. Geriatric assessment tools can be used to determine which patients are suited for treatments and who may not be.