Abstract
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Background: Cancer cachexia negatively affects quality of life (QoL) and increases symptom burden. A multimodal treatment approach may optimize cachexia outcomes, including QoL. We evaluated QoL and symptoms over time among patients attending a multidisciplinary clinical service for cancer cachexia. Methods: Adults with cancer who attended the clinical service three times between 2017 and 2020 were included. Quality of life and symptoms were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) and the Functional Assessment Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaires. Physical function was assessed using the 30s sit-to-stand test and handgrip strength. Results: Overall, 162 patients (age = 67.2 �� 12.0 years) were included. Mean six-month weight loss at baseline was 10.4% �� 9.4%. Mean body weight was stable between clinic visits (P = 0.904) and no change in sit-to-stand repetitions (P = 0.133) or handgrip strength (P = 0.734) occurred over time. Improvements in EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL overall QoL (��10.7 �� 2.5, P < 0.001), physical function (��8.0 �� 2.4, P = 0.003) and emotional function (��11.4 �� 2.9, P < 0.001) occurred by the second visit. EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL fatigue (��13.8 �� 2.9, P < 0.001), pain (��10.3 �� 3.3, P = 0.007), nausea/vomiting (��16.1 �� 3.0, P < 0.001) and appetite symptoms (��25.9 �� 3.8, P < 0.001) also improved by the second visit. FAACT total score (��14.6 �� 2.7, P < 0.001), anorexia-cachexia symptoms (��6.6 �� 1.1, P< 0.001), and physical (��3.7 �� 0.70, P < 0.001), emotional (��1.9 �� 0.60, P = 0.005) and functional wellbeing (��2.7 �� 0.71, P = 0.001) improved by the second visit. All improvements in EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and FAACT outcomes were maintained at the third visit. Conclusion: Significant improvements in QoL and symptoms were associated with attending a cancer cachexia clinical service. Our findings support using multidisciplinary, multimodal cancer cachexia treatment approaches to improve patient wellbeing.