ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Currently used methods for detecting and monitoring cancer cachexia (CC) are not sensitive enough. In this field, there is a need to implement new instruments into clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: Determining the usefulness of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for detecting and monitoring CC in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: 158 people were invited to the study (70 from CRC and 88 controls). Their body composition was determined using BIA, and their nutritional status was determined according to NRS 2002, SGA, and BMI criteria. For statistical data analysis, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and AUC ROC were used. RESULTS: Men with CRC stage I had higher values of FMI, SMMI, and ECW/TBW (p < 0.05) than in stages II-IV, and women with CRC stage I had higher values of FMI, FFMI, and FM/FFM than in the group of stages II-IV (p < 0.05). The ability of FFMI to detect malnutrition relative to SGA was low (sensitivity: women 40%, men 40% and specificity: women 74%, men 70%). CONCLUSIONS: SGA and NRS 2002 scales are dynamic and consider changes in nutritional status over time, while BIA is static and does not consider these changes. Therefore, BIA is not a good tool for screening nutritional status. BIA successfully identifies differences in body composition depending on cancer stage and advancement of CC. Therefore, after the diagnosis CRC, just to monitor the disease advancement and state of CC, it is worth comparing the results of periodically repeated BIA.
ABSTRACT
The endometrial cancer (EC)-specific Quality of Life module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-EN24), was developed and validated in one study. We independently validated and assessed the psychometric properties of the instrument. Two hundred and eight women with EC before surgery, during adjuvant treatment and follow-up; in three different cancer centres completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EN24. The questionnaire's completion rate was 100%, except sexuality items, that were answered by 35% of patients. All item-scale correlations for the multi-item scales exceeded the .4 criterion and correlated well with their own scale, while correlations with the other scales were low. The internal consistency of all multi-item scales were satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .77 to .97). Discriminance for single-item scales was low. The QLQ-EN24 module discriminated well between clinically different patients, and there were no differences in quality of life questionnaire scales between patients with body mass index ≤30 when compared to those with >30. This validation study supports the reliability, as well as convergent and divergent validity of the EORTC QLQ-EN24. The module is a useful instrument for the assessment of QOL in patients with EC. However, data concerning sexuality should be interpreted with caution.
