Impact of weight loss, appetite, and the inflammatory response on quality of life in gastrointestinal cancer patients

The relationship between weight loss, appetite, the inflammatory response, and quality of life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer was e xamined. Height weight, and skinfold anthropometry were measured in 119 pat ients. Blood was taken for analysis of C-reactive protein and albumin. Appe tite, performance status, and quality of life were assessed using EuroQol E Q-5D and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires. Weight loss was >5% (median 17.1%) o f their preillness weight in 97 patients; the remaining 22 patients were we ight stable. Anthropometric measurements and circulating albumin concentrat ions were significantly lower (p < 0.01) and circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the weight-losing than in t he weight-stable group (p < 0.001). Appetite scores, performance status, an d EuroQol EQ-5D and EORTC QLQ-C30 scores were also lower in the weight-losi ng group (p < 0.01). When the weight-losing cancer patients were divided on the basis of whether they had a marked inflammatory response, albumin conc entrations appetite, and Karnofsky performance status were significantly lo wer (p < 0.05) in the group with a marked inflammatory response. The result s of the present study are consistent with weight loss, reduction of appeti te, and an elevated inflammatory response being important related factors i n lowering the quality of life of gastrointestinal cancer patients.