title: Weight change and lung cancer: relationships with symptom distress, functional status, and smoking.
abstract: The pattern of weight change (at five 6-week intervals beginning 2 months after diagnosis of advanced disease) is described in adults with progressive lung cancer (N = 60). Weight loss of 10% or more at study entry occurred in 35% of subjects; 37% lost weight at three or more intervals; and 25% lost weight at only one interval. Pre-illness weight loss was moderately correlated with subsequent decreased functional status (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 times (Times 2, 4, and 5: r = -.34, r = -.30, r = -.43, p < .05). Chemotherapy (50% of subjects) and smoking (25% at study entry) predicted weight loss from Time 1 to 5, explaining 28% of the variance.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-6918.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarna
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brecht
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCorkle
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss