WEIGHT CHANGE AND LUNG-CANCER - RELATIONSHIPS WITH SYMPTOM DISTRESS, FUNCTIONAL STATUS, AND SMOKING

The pattern of weight change (at five 6-week intervals beginning 2 mon ths after diagnosis of advanced disease) is described in adults with p rogressive lung cancer (N = 60). Weight loss of 10% or more at study e ntry occurred in 35% of subjects; 37% lost weight at three or more int ervals; and 25% lost weight at only one interval. Pre-illness weight l oss was moderately correlated with subsequent decreased functional sta tus (Enforced Social Dependency Scale) at Times 1, 2, and 3 (r = -.49, r = -.43, r = -.48, p < .001). Weight loss correlated with subsequent increased symptom distress (Symptom Distress Scale, SDS) at three tim es (Times 2, 4, and 5: r = -.34, r = -.30, r = -.43, p < .05). Chemoth erapy (50% of subjects) and smoking (25% at study entry) predicted wei ght loss from Time 1 to 5, explaining 28% of the variance. (C) 1994 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.