Predictors and prognostic importance of weight change in adult solid tumors.
103 Background: Body weight change in adults with solid tumors was examined in outpatients. Objective was to determine if demographics, clinical and biochemical characteristics were associated with change in weight between visit 1 and visit 2. Examine if weight change and related parameters were associated with survival. Methods: Electronic medical records (EMR) from a tertiary cancer center retrospectively reviewed from 2009-2011. Body weight and other clinical parameters on visit 1 - within a year post diagnosis; visit 2 ≥3 weeks after visit 1. Weight change categorized as: weight gain, 0-5%, 5.01-10%, >10%. Ordinal logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards utilized for WL predictors and prognostic factors respectively. Results: N = 5,901; Mean age (±SD): 61 ± 12 years; 82% were Caucasians; 16% African Americans. Common cancers were prostate 19%; breast 15%; lung 15%; head and neck 6%; colorectal 6%; others 12%. Metastatic disease was present in 18%. Bone, brain, lymph nodes – were common metastatic sites. 45% had radiotherapy; 41% chemotherapy. Median weight change from visit 1 to visit 2 = -1 (-48, 66) kgs. Weight loss (WL) in 57% (≤5%: 30%, 5.01-10%: 13%, >10%: 14%). Different primary cancer sites, number of metastatic sites, radiotherapy/chemotherapy/hormonal therapies, older age, body mass index (BMI), and albumin predicted weight change. Median survival in 5.01-10.0% WL= 9.4 months, >10.0% = 5.3 months, and not observed ≤ 5%. Conclusions: 1. Majority lost ≤5% of body weight by visit 2. 2. Esophagus, head and neck, and pancreas (primary) - the greatest risk of WL; prostate – lowest. 3. High BMI predicted greater WL compared to normal or underweight. 4. ≤5% WL had a survival advantage compared to 5.01-10% and >10%. 5. WL remained prognostic for survival after adjusting for other prognostic factors.