Body Mass Index (BMI) e quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients – the ‘Tor Vergata’ Observational study in oNCOlogy– TV-ONCO study

Abstract

Conclusion: Our results show that better HRQoL is associated with higher BMI possibly owing to additional energetic reserve counteracting cachexia. Further studies will need to address whether intensified nutritional support to achieve weight gain is warranted to improve HRQoL.Results: Among recruited pts 5 were underweight (3.7%), 59 normal weight (43.4%), 46 overweight (33.8%) and 26 obese (19.1%). Male 56 (41.1%) and female 80 (58.9%). Pts inoperable or one site of metastases 26 (19.1%); pts with two and more than two sites of metastases were 63 (46.3%) and 47 (34.6%), respectively. Primary sites were GU (n 20, 14.7%), upper GI (n 18, 13.2%), colorectum (n 46, 33.8%), breast (n 25, 18.4%), lung (n 17, 12.5%), or other (n 10, 7.4%). Median Global Health Status (GHS) score was 50 for underweight pts, 50 for normal weight pts, 58 for overweight pts and 67 for obese pts. By dividing pts in BMI quintiles, we found that pts group with lowest BMI category (BMI<18) had a significantly lower median GHS score as compared with the pts group with highest BMI category (BMI>31), 50 vs 75, p 0.02. Other significant differences between these two extreme BMI categories were in Physical Functioning (median score 67v90, p 0.01), Role Functioning (67v100, p 0.02), Emotional Functioning (67v91, p 0.02) and Social Functioning (67v100, p 0.02).