A chart review, pilot study of two single-item screens to detect 
cancer patients at risk for cachexia

Objective: Cachexia is a problematic wasting syndrome experienced by some cancer patients that can lead to early death in these patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine the criterion validity and sensitivity and specificity of two single items from a depression scale to rapidly screen patients in ambulatory oncology clinics for cancer-related nutritional risk and cachexia.Methods: A chart review was conducted of 50 randomly selected patient profiles. Patients' responses to item 5 (“I eat as much as I used to”) and item 7 (“I notice I am losing weight”) of the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) were compared against the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as well as to Body Mass Index (BMI) scores and weight at two time periods.Results: Item 5 of the ZSDS was significantly related to initial weight (F3,45 = 6.06, p < 0.001), weight at 6-month follow-up (F3,27 = 4.16, p < 0.05), BMI score (F3,46 = 2.89, p < 0.05), and nutritional risk on the PG-SGA (F3,45 = 5.80, p < 0.01). Item 7 of the ZSDS was only a significant predictor of nutritional risk as measured by the PG-SGA (F3,46 = 6.01, p < 0.01). When the two items were combined to form a two-item scale, it maintained the individual items' significant relationship to the PG-SGA (F1,48 = 13.99, p < 0.001). Using this as the criterion for identifying nutritionally at-risk patients, the two-item screen yields a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 88%.Significance of the research: It is concluded that a single item or a combination of two items can yield a reliable initial screen for identifying patients who might be at nutritional risk for the development of cachexia. Further study is needed in prospective trials to further explore the utility of these items.

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Breaking the rule of nondirectiveness: the psychological impact of early identification of breast cancer patients at risk for hereditary breast cancer

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e536932011-073 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

K. J. Schlich-Bakker ◽

F. J. M. Grosfeld ◽

H. F. J. Kroode ◽

C. C. Warlam-Rodenhuis ◽

M. G. E. M. Ausems ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

At Risk ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Early Identification ◽

Hereditary Breast Cancer ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Patients At Risk

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Assessment of cough in head and neck cancer patients at risk for dysphagia—An overview

Cancer Reports ◽

10.1002/cnr2.1395 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sofiana Mootassim‐Billah ◽

Gwen Van Nuffelen ◽

Jean Schoentgen ◽

Marc De Bodt ◽

Tatiana Dragan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Patients At Risk

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Cancer patients at risk of herb-supplement-drug interactions: who knows?

Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies ◽

10.1111/fct.12157 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 44-45

Author(s):

A Huntley ◽

EM Williamson

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Drug Interactions ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Patients At Risk

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Distress experienced by lung cancer patients and their family caregivers in the first year of their cancer journey

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951521000377 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Michèle Aubin ◽

Lucie Vézina ◽

René Verreault ◽

Sébastien Simard ◽

Éveline Hudon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Screening Program ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Quebec City ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Distress Score ◽

Ambulatory Oncology

Abstract Objectives Diagnosis of cancer is emotionally threatening not only for patients but also for their family caregivers (FC) who witness and share much of the illness experience. This study compares distress experienced by lung cancer patients and their FC during the year following the diagnosis. Methods A prospective cohort study of 206 patients recently diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer (participation rate 79.5%) and 131 FC (participation rate 63.6%) was conducted in an ambulatory oncology clinic in Quebec City (Canada). They completed validated questionnaires regarding their personal and psychological characteristics (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale—HADS), in the first months after the diagnosis of lung cancer and after 6 and 12 months. Univariate, bivariate, and linear mixed models were conducted to compare patient and FC distress. Results At baseline, 7.8% of patients reported distress (HADS total score >15) and their mean distress score was 7.0 ± 4.9 (range 0–42). In contrast, 33.6% of FC presented significant distress and their mean distress score was 12.0 ± 7.2 (P < 0.0001). Proportions of patients and FC with distress remained relatively stable at 6 and 12 months, and at every time point, FC reported higher levels of distress compared to their relative with cancer (P < 0.0001). Comparable trends were found when looking at the mean scores of distress, anxiety, and depression throughout the study. Significance of results Being diagnosed with lung cancer and going through its different phases seems to affect more FC than patients. The psychological impact of such diagnosis appears early after the diagnosis and does not significantly change over time. These findings reinforce the importance for oncology teams, to include FC in their systematic distress screening program, in order to help them cope with their own feelings and be able to play their role in patient support and care throughout the cancer journey.

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Cancer patients at risk from inaccurate clinical reporting in a high‐profile alternative treatment story: comments and corrections

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03953.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 193 (6) ◽

pp. 371-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Grace O Gawler

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Alternative Treatment ◽

High Profile ◽

Patients At Risk

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Nutritional Risk Screening and Assessment

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8071065 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 1065 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Emilie Reber ◽

Filomena Gomes ◽

Maria F. Vasiloglou ◽

Philipp Schuetz ◽

Zeno Stanga

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

At Risk ◽

Nutritional Support ◽

Nutritional Risk ◽

Nutritional Management ◽

Risk Screening ◽

Care Plans ◽

Patients At Risk ◽

Nutritional Risk Screening

Malnutrition is an independent risk factor that negatively influences patients’ clinical outcomes, quality of life, body function, and autonomy. Early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition or who are malnourished is crucial in order to start a timely and adequate nutritional support. Nutritional risk screening, a simple and rapid first-line tool to detect patients at risk of malnutrition, should be performed systematically in patients at hospital admission. Patients with nutritional risk should subsequently undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify specific nutritional problems. Such an assessment includes subjective and objective parameters such as medical history, current and past dietary intake (including energy and protein balance), physical examination and anthropometric measurements, functional and mental assessment, quality of life, medications, and laboratory values. Nutritional care plans should be developed in a multidisciplinary approach, and implemented to maintain and improve patients’ nutritional condition. Standardized nutritional management including systematic risk screening and assessment may also contribute to reduced healthcare costs. Adequate and timely implementation of nutritional support has been linked with favorable outcomes such as a decrease in length of hospital stay, reduced mortality, and reductions in the rate of severe complications, as well as improvements in quality of life and functional status. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of nutritional screening and assessment methods that can contribute to an effective and well-structured nutritional management (process cascade) of hospitalized patients.

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