What is it about?
To our knowledge, this is the first prospective longitudinal observational study to evaluate the impact of cachexia on functional prognosis and socioeconomic parameters in elderly patients with advanced lung cancer (Trial registration No: UMIN000009768). Cachectic patients easily disabled and had shorter disability-free survival than non-cachectic patients. Frequent events included difficulty in stair climbing, moving, bathing, and toilet use.
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Why is it important?
Cachectic elderly patients with advanced lung cancer were more frequently disabled, required prolonged hospitalizations, and were associated with higher medical costs while receiving chemotherapy.
Perspectives
Our results suggest that there is a potential need for early multimodal intervention with exercise and nutrition for elderly patients with advanced lung cancer to maintain functional independence and reduce medical dependency during chemotherapy. Further randomized control study is needed to determine the optimal treatment regimen for cancer cachexia and its impact on functional prognosis.
MD. PhD. Tateaki Naito
Shizuoka Cancer Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Unfavorable impact of cancer cachexia on activity of daily living and need for inpatient care in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in Japan: a prospective longitudinal observational study, BMC Cancer, November 2017, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3795-2.
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