The incidence and impact of low body mass index on patients with operable lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively assess the nutritional status of patients referred for lung cancer surgery, as well as to assess the prognostic value of nutritional status in determining the surgical outcome.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-six patients with potentially operable lung cancer were recruited. Loss of appetite and weight loss were recorded. All patients had serum albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) measured. Surgical outcome were noted.


RESULTS
Mean age was 69 (range 42-85) years; 29/146 were not referred for surgery. Eight patients underwent failed thoracotomy. In the remaining 109 patients, mean BMI was 26. Seven patients had BMI of 19 or less. Forty-four patients had ideal body weight. The majority of patients (n=58) were overweight. Mean serum albumin was 37g/l and lower than 30g/l in 5 cases. There were 4% postoperative deaths and 32% with poor surgical outcome. There was no statistical difference in mean BMI, serum albumin, loss of appetite or weight loss between the two outcome groups.


CONCLUSIONS
BMI is usually well preserved in patients with operable lung cancer. There was no association between low BMI, low serum albumin, loss of appetite or weight loss, and postoperative death or poor surgical outcome in this study.
Win
Thida
T
Thoracic Oncology Unit, Papworth Hospital, Papworth, Cambridge, UK. thida.win@nhs.uk
Ritchie
Andrew J
AJ
Wells
Francis C
FC
Laroche
Clare M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
D012709:Serum Albumin