Weight loss, appetite loss and food intake in cancer patients with cancer cachexia: Three peas in a pod? – analysis from a multicenter cross sectional study

Abstract Background The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among cancer patients and it may reflect the individual and societal beliefs on cancer therapy. Our study aimed to evaluate the trends of CAM use among patients with cancer between 2006 and 2018. Methods We included 2 Cohorts of patients with cancer who were recruited for Cohort 1 between 2006 and 2008 and for Cohort 2 between 2016 and 2018. The study is a cross-sectional study obtaining demographic and clinical information and inquiring about the types of CAM used, the reasons to use them and the perceived benefits. We compared the changes in the patterns of CAM use and other variables between the two cohorts. Results A total of 1416 patients were included in the study, with 464 patients in Cohort 1 and 952 patients in Cohort 2. Patients in Cohort 2 used less CAM (78.9%) than Cohort 1 (96.8%). Cohort 1 was more likely to use CAM to treat cancer compared to Cohort 2 (84.4% vs. 73%, respectively, p < 0.0001,); while Cohort 2 used CAM for symptom management such as pain control and improving appetite among others. Disclosure of CAM use did not change significantly over time and remains low (31.6% in Cohort 1 and 35.7% for Cohort 2). However, physicians were more likely to express an opposing opinion against CAM use in Cohort 2 compared to Cohort 1 (48.7% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion There is a significant change in CAM use among cancer patients over the decade, which reflects major societal and cultural changes in this population. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve the disclosure to physicians and to improve other aspects of care to these patients.

Download Full-text

Correlation between ER, PR, HER-2, and Ki-67 with the risk of bone metastases detected by bone scintigraphy in breast cancer patients: A cross sectional study

Annals of Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102532 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102532

Author(s):

Hanif Afkari ◽

Firdian Makrufardi ◽

Basuki Hidayat ◽

Hendra Budiawan ◽

Achmad Hussein Sundawa Kartamihardja

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Bone Metastases ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Bone Scintigraphy ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Ki 67 ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Her 2

Download Full-text

Grazing Behavior Hinders Weight Loss in Long-Term Post Bariatric Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study

Obesity Surgery ◽

10.1007/s11695-021-05533-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Larissa Cristina Lins Berber ◽

Mariana Silva Melendez-Araújo ◽

Eduardo Yoshio Nakano ◽

Kênia Mara Baiocchi de Carvalho ◽

Eliane Said Dutra

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Grazing Behavior ◽

Post Bariatric Surgery

Download Full-text

Out-of-Pocket Costs and Perceived Financial Burden Associated with Prostate Cancer Treatment in a Quebec Remote Area: A Cross-Sectional Study

Current Oncology ◽

10.3390/curroncol28010005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 26-39

Author(s):

Abir El-Haouly ◽

Anais Lacasse ◽

Hares El-Rami ◽

Frederic Liandier ◽

Alice Dragomir

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

University Education ◽

School Level ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Perceived Burden ◽

Out Of Pocket Costs

Background: In publicly funded healthcare systems, patients do not pay for medical visits but can experience costs stemming from travel or over-the-counter drugs. We lack information about the extent of this burden in Canadian remote regions. This study aimed to: (1) describe prostate cancer-related out-of-pocket costs and perceived financial burden, and (2) identify factors associated with such a perceived burden among prostate cancer patients living in a remote region of the province of Quebec (Canada). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 171 prostate cancer patients who consulted at the outpatient clinic of the Centre Hospitalier de Rouyn-Noranda. Results: The majority of patients (83%) had incurred out-of-pocket costs for their cancer care. The mean total cost incurred in the last three months was $517 and 22.3% reported a moderate, considerable or unsustainable burden. Multivariable analysis revealed that having incurred higher cancer-related out-of-pocket costs (OR: 1.001; 95%CI: 1.001–1.002) private drug insurance (vs. public, OR: 5.23; 95%CI: 1.13–24.17) was associated with a greater perceived financial burden. Having better physical health-related quality of life (OR: 0.95; 95%CI: 0.913–0.997), a university education (vs. elementary/high school level, OR: 0.03; 95%CI: 0.00–0.79), and an income between $40,000 and $79,999 (vs. ≤ $39,999, OR: 0.15; 95%CI: 0.03–0.69) were associated with a lower perceived burden. Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients incur out-of-pocket costs even if they were diagnosed many years ago and the perceived burden is significant. Greater attention should be paid to the development of services to help patients manage this burden.

Download Full-text

High neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio is associated with nutritional risk in hospitalised, unselected cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96586-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jéssika M Siqueira ◽

Jéssika D P Soares ◽

Thaís C Borges ◽

Tatyanne L N Gomes ◽

Gustavo D Pimentel

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Roc Curve ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Nutritional Risk ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cut Point ◽

Nrs 2002

AbstractCancer patients possess metabolic and pathophysiological changes and an inflammatory environment that leads to malnutrition. This study aimed to (i) determine whether there is an association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and nutritional risk, and (ii) identify the cut-off value of NLR that best predicts malnutrition by screening for nutritional risk (NRS 2002). This cross-sectional study included 119 patients with unselected cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or surgery. The NRS 2002 was applied within 24 h of hospitalisation to determine the nutritional risk. Systemic inflammation was assessed by blood collection, and data on C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, and lymphocytes were collected for later calculation of NLR. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the best cut-point for NLR value that predicted nutritional risk. Differences between the groups were tested using the Student’s t-, Mann–Whitney U and Chi-Square tests. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between NLR and nutritional risk. The ROC curve showed the best cut-point for predicting nutritional risk was NLR > 5.0 (sensitivity, 60.9%; specificity, 76.4%). The NLR ≥ 5.0 group had a higher prevalence of nutritional risk than the NLR < 5.0 group (NLR ≥ 5.0: 73.6% vs. NLR < 5.0: 37.9%, p = 0.001). The NLR group ≥ 5.0 showed higher values of CRP and NLR than the NLR < 5.0 group. In addition, patients with NLR ≥ 5.0 also had higher NRS 2002 values when compared to the NLR < 5.0 group (NLR ≥ 5.0: 3.0 ± 1.1 vs. NLR < 5.0: 2.3 ± 1.2, p = 0.0004). Logistic regression revealed an association between NRS and NLR values. In hospitalised unselected cancer patients, systemic inflammation measured by NLR was associated with nutritional risk. Therefore, we highlight the importance of measuring the NLR in clinical practice, with the aim to detect nutritional risk.

Download Full-text