Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29274028›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2018

A cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of cachexia and areas of unmet need in patients with cancer.

Ola Magne Vagnildhaug, Trude Rakel Balstad, Sigrun Saur Almberg, Cinzia Brunelli, Anne Kari Knudsen, Stein Kaasa, Morten Thronæs, Barry Laird, Tora Skeidsvoll Solheim

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
42citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

42 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 70 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Effect of preoperative cancer cachexia on postoperative sarcopenia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Ola Magne VagnildhaugEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway. ola.m.vagnildhaug@ntnu.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9419-5969
Trude Rakel BalstadEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Sigrun Saur AlmbergEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Cinzia BrunelliEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Anne Kari KnudsenEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Stein KaasaEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Morten ThronæsEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Barry LairdEdinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK.
Tora Skeidsvoll SolheimEuropean Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology · NOOslo University Hospital · NOWestern General Hospital · GB

Funding

Cancer Fund St. Olavs Hospital 57/13Marie Curie MCCC-RP-16-A20997
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe semantics of defining cancer cachexia over the last decade has resulted in uncertainty as to the prevalence. This has further hindered the recognition and subsequent treatment of this condition. Following the consensus definition for cancer cachexia in 2011, there is now a need to establish estimates of prevalence. Therefore, the primary aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of cachexia in an unselected cancer population. A secondary aim was to assess patient-perceived need of attention to cachexia.

methodsA cross-sectional study in hospital patients was undertaken. Key inclusion criteria were the following: age > 18 years, cancer diagnosis, and no surgery the preceding 24 h. Data on demographics, disease, performance status, symptoms, cachexia, and patients' perceived need of attention to weight loss and nutrition were registered.

resultsData were available on 386 of 426 eligible patients. Median age (IQR) was 65 years (56-72), 214 (55%) were male and 302 (78%) had a performance status of 0-1 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group). Prevalence of cachexia (inpatients/outpatients) was 51/22%. Prevalence was highest in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (62/42%) and lung cancer (83/36%). There was no major difference in prevalence between patients with metastatic (55/24%) and localized disease (47/19%). Twenty percent of inpatients and 15% of outpatients wanted more attention to weight loss and nutrition. Cachexia (p < 0.001), symptoms of mood disorder (p < 0.001), and male gender (p < 0.01) were independently associated with increased need of attention.

conclusionCachexia is a prevalent condition, affecting both patients with localized and metastatic cancer. Clinical attention to the condition is a sizeable unmet need.

Indexed as

AgedCachexiaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Services Needs and DemandHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeeds AssessmentNeoplasmsNutritional StatusPrevalenceWeight LossCachexiaCancerNutritionPrevalenceWeight loss

Identifiers

PMID29274028
OpenAlexW2776350585

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.