scholarly journals Factors Influencing Survival Time in Patients Treated for Oesophageal Cancer with Palliative Intent in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucien Ferndale ◽  
Oluwatosin A Ayeni ◽  
Wenlong Carl Chen ◽  
Colleen Aldous
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Serum Albumin ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Oesophageal Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Optimal Management ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
And Performance

Abstract BackgroundMost patients presenting with oesophageal cancer to South African institutions present late with advanced disease and are eligible for palliative treatment only. The optimal management of these patients is dependent on their expected survival but factors affecting survival in our setting is unknown. MethodsWe assessed factors influencing survival in patients diagnosed with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma at Grey's hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Factors assessed for effect on prognosis included patient demographics, clinical and laboratory data and tumour factors. Patients were divided into two groups; those that survived for less than or equal to three months and those that survived for more than three months.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine which factors significantly influenced whether patients survived for more than three months or not. ResultsA total of 384 patients were entered into the study. There were 218 males with a female to male ratio of 1:1.3. The median survival of the cohort was 3.7 months. One hundred and sixty-one (41.9%) patients survived three months or less, while 223 (58.1%) of patients survived more than three months. Factors that influenced survival on univariate and multivariate analysis were the area of residence, body mass index, serum albumin and performance status.ConclusionArea of residence, body mass index, serum albumin and performance status significantly affect survival in patients treated palliatively for advanced oesophageal cancer at our institution. This knowledge can be used to plan the optimal management algorithm for these patients.

scholarly journals The effect of eligibility for antiretroviral therapy on body mass index and blood pressure in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Kuber ◽  
Anna Reuter ◽  
Pascal Geldsetzer ◽  
Natsayi Chimbindi ◽  
Mosa Moshabela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Regression Discontinuity Design ◽  
National Treatment ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

AbstractWe use a regression discontinuity design to estimate the causal effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) eligibility according to national treatment guidelines of South Africa on two risk factors for cardiovascular disease, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. We combine survey data collected in 2010 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with clinical data on ART. We find that early ART eligibility significantly reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We do not find any significant effects on BMI. The effect on blood pressure can be detected up to three years after becoming eligible for ART.

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Self-report and Performance-based Measures of Physical Function in Adult Women

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Hergenroeder ◽  
Jennifer S. Brach ◽  
Amy D. Otto ◽  
Patrick J. Sparto ◽  
John M. Jakicic
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals Body mass index (BMI) and outcome of metastatic melanoma patients receiving targeted therapy and immunotherapy: a multicenter international retrospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001117
Author(s):  
Piotr Rutkowski ◽  
Alice Indini ◽  
Matilde De Luca ◽  
Barbara Merelli ◽  
Anna Mariuk-Jarema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Metastatic Melanoma ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Prognostic Role ◽  
First Line

BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for malignancy; however, its prognostic role in patients with metastatic melanoma is controversial. We aim to investigate the prognostic role of body mass index (BMI) in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving mitogen-activated pathway kinase inhibitors (MAPKi), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone or their sequence.MethodsData on patients with metastatic melanoma receiving ≥1 line of systemic treatment were retrieved from prospectively collected databases. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by means of multivariable stratified Cox regression models; disease control rate (DCR) was analyzed by multivariable stratified logistic regression models. Subgroup analyzes according to the type of treatments received, and in BRAF-mutated patients were pre-planned. All multivariable models included BMI, age, gender, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase and treatment sequencing strategy as covariates.ResultsBetween November 2010 and November 2018, 688 patients from three Italian and two Polish centers were enrolled. 379 (57%) patients had M1c/d disease, 273 (41%) were female and the mean BMI was 27.1 (SD=4.9). Considering first-line treatment, 446 patients (66.8%) received ICIs and 222 MAPKi. No impact of BMI on OS was detected either considering the first line of ICIs, or ICIs sequencing (HR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.05, p=0.202, and HR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.04, p=0.237, respectively). A late effect of BMI on OS was found in patients treated with MAPKi: for five units increment, a 51% of risk reduction at 18 months and a 76% of risk reduction at 30 months were observed. No significant effect of BMI on PFS and DCR was found in any of the subgroup analyzes.ConclusionIn patients with metastatic melanoma receiving ICIs, there is no impact of BMI on DCR, PFS and OS. The late prognostic effect of BMI in patients treated with MAPKi should be considered hypothesis generating and needs to be further investigated.

scholarly journals Pensions, consumption and health: evidence from rural South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lloyd-Sherlock ◽  
Sutapa Agrawal ◽  
Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Older People ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Food Scarcity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Food And Drink

Abstract Background Increasing numbers of older people in sub-Saharan Africa are gaining access to pension benefits and it is often claimed that these benefits promote healthy forms of consumption, which contribute to significant improvements in their health status. However, evidence to support these claims is limited. Methods The paper uses data for 2701 people aged 60 or over who participated in a population-based study in rural north-eastern South Africa. It analyses effects of receiving a pension on reported food scarcity, body mass index and patterns of consumption. Results The paper finds that living in a pension household is associated with a reduced risk of reported food scarcity and with higher levels of consumption of food and drink. The paper does not find that living in a pension household is associated with a higher prevalence of current smoking nor current alcohol consumption. However, the paper still finds that tobacco and alcohol make up over 40% of reported food and drink consumption, and that the correlation between reported food scarcity and body mass index status is imperfect. Conclusions The paper does not show significant associations between pension receipt and the selected risk factors. However, the context of prevalent obesity and high shares of household spending allocated to tobacco and alcohol call into question widely-made claims that pensions enhance healthy consumption among older people in low and middle-income countries.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document