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Wang QL, Babic A, Rosenthal MH, Lee AA, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Song M, Rezende LFM, Lee DH, Biller L, Ng K, Giannakis M, Chan AT, Meyerhardt JA, Fuchs CS, Eliassen AH, Birmann BM, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci EL, Kraft P, Nowak JA, Yuan C, Wolpin BM. Cancer Diagnoses After Recent Weight Loss. JAMA 2024; 331:318-328. [PMID: 38261044 PMCID: PMC10807298 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.25869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Importance Weight loss is common in primary care. Among individuals with recent weight loss, the rates of cancer during the subsequent 12 months are unclear compared with those without recent weight loss. Objective To determine the rates of subsequent cancer diagnoses over 12 months among health professionals with weight loss during the prior 2 years compared with those without recent weight loss. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective cohort analysis of females aged 40 years or older from the Nurses' Health Study who were followed up from June 1978 until June 30, 2016, and males aged 40 years or older from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were followed up from January 1988 until January 31, 2016. Exposure Recent weight change was calculated from the participant weights that were reported biennially. The intentionality of weight loss was categorized as high if both physical activity and diet quality increased, medium if only 1 increased, and low if neither increased. Main Outcome and Measures Rates of cancer diagnosis during the 12 months after weight loss. Results Among 157 474 participants (median age, 62 years [IQR, 54-70 years]; 111 912 were female [71.1%]; there were 2631 participants [1.7%] who self-identified as Asian, Native American, or Native Hawaiian; 2678 Black participants [1.7%]; and 149 903 White participants [95.2%]) and during 1.64 million person-years of follow-up, 15 809 incident cancer cases were identified (incident rate, 964 cases/100 000 person-years). During the 12 months after reported weight change, there were 1362 cancer cases/100 000 person-years among all participants with recent weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 869 cancer cases/100 000 person-years among those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 493 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 391-594 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001). Among participants categorized with low intentionality for weight loss, there were 2687 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those with weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 1220 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 1467 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 799-2135 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001). Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract (cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver, biliary tract, or pancreas) was particularly common among participants with recent weight loss; there were 173 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those with weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 36 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 137 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 101-172 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Health professionals with weight loss within the prior 2 years had a significantly higher risk of cancer during the subsequent 12 months compared with those without recent weight loss. Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract was particularly common among participants with recent weight loss compared with those without recent weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-Li Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ana Babic
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael H. Rosenthal
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alice A. Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yin Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xuehong Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mingyang Song
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit and Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leandro F. M. Rezende
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dong Hoon Lee
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Sport Industry Studies, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Leah Biller
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kimmie Ng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marios Giannakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew T. Chan
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit and Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles S. Fuchs
- Genentech and Roche, South San Francisco, California
- Yale Cancer Center, Smilow Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - A. Heather Eliassen
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brenda M. Birmann
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Meir J. Stampfer
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Edward L. Giovannucci
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Peter Kraft
- Department of Epidemiology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan A. Nowak
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chen Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brian M. Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
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Withrow DR, Oke J, Friedemann Smith C, Hobbs R, Nicholson BD. Serious disease risk among patients with unexpected weight loss: a matched cohort of over 70 000 primary care presentations. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:2661-2668. [PMID: 36056750 PMCID: PMC9745555 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unexpected weight loss (UWL) in patients consulting in primary care presents dilemmas for management because of the broad differential diagnoses associated with UWL. Research on the risks of serious disease among patients with UWL to date has largely taken place in secondary care, limiting generalizability to primary care patients. In this study, we use a large matched cohort study to estimate the risks of 12 serious diseases among patients presenting to primary care with UWL where this was recorded, stratified by age and sex, in order to inform a rational clinical approach to patients presenting with UWL. METHODS This was a retrospective matched cohort study using electronic health records (EHRs) from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Each patient with UWL (ascertained from EHR coding) was matched to five patients without UWL and followed until the earliest of a diagnosis of the serious disease, date of death, exit from the CPRD database, or end of the study. Observed absolute risks of the 12 serious diseases were estimated as probabilities, and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Between 2000 and 2012, 70 193 patients in CPRD had at least one record of UWL and were matched with 295 579 patients without UWL. Patients with UWL had significantly higher risk of nearly all serious diseases examined compared with patients without. HRs ranged from 1.43 for congestive heart failure [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-1.62] to 9.70 for malabsorption (95% CI: 6.81-13.82). The absolute risks of any given serious disease were relatively low (<6% after 1 year). The magnitude and rank order of absolute risks varied by age and sex. Depression was the most common diagnosis among women aged <80 with UWL (3.74% of women aged <60 and 2.46% of women aged 60-79), whereas diabetes was the most common in men <60 with UWL (2.96%) and cancer was the most common in men aged 60 and over with UWL (3.79% of men aged 60-70 and 5.28% of men aged ≥80). CONCLUSIONS This analysis provides new evidence to patients and clinicians about the risks of serious disease among patients presenting with UWL in primary care. Depending on age and sex, the results suggest that workup for UWL should include screening for diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, depression, and dementia. If performed in a timely manner, this workup could be used to triage patients eligible for cancer pathway referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana R Withrow
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jason Oke
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Friedemann Smith
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Hobbs
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Brian D Nicholson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Nicholson BD, Thompson MJ, Hobbs FDR, Nguyen M, McLellan J, Green B, Chubak J, Oke JL. Measured weight loss as a precursor to cancer diagnosis: retrospective cohort analysis of 43 302 primary care patients. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:2492-2503. [PMID: 35903866 PMCID: PMC9530580 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unexpected weight loss is a presenting feature of cancer in primary care. Data from primary care are lacking to quantify how much weight loss over what period should trigger further investigation for cancer. This research aimed to quantify cancer diagnosis rates associated with measured weight change in people attending primary care. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of primary care electronic health records data linked to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry (Integrated healthcare delivery system in Washington State, United States). Multivariable Cox regression incorporating time varying covariates using splines to model non-linear associations (age, percentage weight change, and weight change interval). Fifty thousand randomly selected patients aged 40 years and over followed for up to 9 years (1 January 2006 to 31 December 2014). Outcome measures are hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) to quantify the association between percentage weight change and cancer diagnosis for all cancers combined, individual cancer sites and stages; percentage risk of cancer diagnosis within 6 months of the end of each weight change episode; and the positive predictive value for cancer diagnosis. RESULTS There were 43 302 included in the analysis after exclusions. Over 287 858 patient-years of follow-up, including 24 272 (56.1%) females, 23 980 (55.4%) aged 40 to 59 years, 15 113 (34.9%) 60 to 79 years, and 4209 (9.7%) aged 80 years and over. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for cancer diagnosis in a 60 years old ranged from 1.04 (1.02 to 1.05, P < 0.001) for 1% weight loss to 1.44 (1.23 to 1.68, P < 0.001) for 10%. An independent linear association was observed between percentage weight loss and increasing cancer risk. The absolute risk of cancer diagnosis increased with increasing age (up to 85 years) and as the weight change measurement interval decreased (<1 year). The positive predictive value for a cancer diagnosis within 1 year of ≥5% measured weight loss in a 60 to 69 years old was 3.41% (1.57% to 6.37%) in men and 3.47% (1.68% to 6.29%) in women. The risk of cancer diagnosis was significantly increased for pancreatic, myeloma, gastro-oesophageal, colorectal, breast, stage II and IV cancers. CONCLUSIONS Weight loss is a sign of undiagnosed cancer regardless of the interval over which it occurs. Guidelines should resist giving an arbitrary cut-off for the interval of weight loss and focus on the percentage of weight loss and the patient's age. Future studies should focus on the association between diagnostic evaluation of weight change and risk of cancer mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian David Nicholson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Matthew Nguyen
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Julie McLellan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beverly Green
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Chubak
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jason Lee Oke
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Consultations for clinical features of possible cancer and associated urgent referrals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational cohort study from English primary care. Br J Cancer 2021; 126:948-956. [PMID: 34934176 PMCID: PMC8691390 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01666-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It remains unclear to what extent reductions in urgent referrals for suspected cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic were the result of fewer patients attending primary care compared to GPs referring fewer patients. Methods Cohort study including electronic health records data from 8,192,069 patients from 663 English practices. Weekly consultation rates, cumulative consultations and referrals were calculated for 28 clinical features from the NICE suspected cancer guidelines. Clinical feature consultation rate ratios (CRR) and urgent referral rate ratios (RRR) compared time periods in 2020 with 2019. Findings Consultations for cancer clinical features decreased by 24.19% (95% CI: 24.04–24.34%) between 2019 and 2020, particularly in the 6–12 weeks following the first national lockdown. Urgent referrals for clinical features decreased by 10.47% (95% CI: 9.82–11.12%) between 2019 and 2020. Overall, once patients consulted with primary care, GPs urgently referred a similar or greater proportion of patients compared to previous years. Conclusion Due to the significant fall in patients consulting with clinical features of cancer there was a lower than expected number of urgent referrals in 2020. Sustained efforts should be made throughout the pandemic to encourage the public to consult their GP with cancer clinical features.
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Combining simple blood tests to identify primary care patients with unexpected weight loss for cancer investigation: Clinical risk score development, internal validation, and net benefit analysis. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003728. [PMID: 34464384 PMCID: PMC8407560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unexpected weight loss (UWL) is a presenting feature of cancer in primary care. Existing research proposes simple combinations of clinical features (risk factors, symptoms, signs, and blood test data) that, when present, warrant cancer investigation. More complex combinations may modify cancer risk to sufficiently rule-out the need for investigation. We aimed to identify which clinical features can be used together to stratify patients with UWL based on their risk of cancer. METHODS AND FINDINGS We used data from 63,973 adults (age: mean 59 years, standard deviation 21 years; 42% male) to predict cancer in patients with UWL recorded in a large representative United Kingdom primary care electronic health record between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012. We derived 3 clinical prediction models using logistic regression and backwards stepwise covariate selection: Sm, symptoms-only model; STm, symptoms and tests model; Tm, tests-only model. Fifty imputations replaced missing data. Estimates of discrimination and calibration were derived using 10-fold internal cross-validation. Simple clinical risk scores are presented for models with the greatest clinical utility in decision curve analysis. The STm and Tm showed improved discrimination (area under the curve ≥ 0.91), calibration, and greater clinical utility than the Sm. The Tm was simplest including age-group, sex, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, liver enzymes, C-reactive protein, haemoglobin, platelets, and total white cell count. A Tm score of 5 balanced ruling-in (sensitivity 84.0%, positive likelihood ratio 5.36) and ruling-out (specificity 84.3%, negative likelihood ratio 0.19) further cancer investigation. A Tm score of 1 prioritised ruling-out (sensitivity 97.5%). At this threshold, 35 people presenting with UWL in primary care would be referred for investigation for each person with cancer referred, and 1,730 people would be spared referral for each person with cancer not referred. Study limitations include using a retrospective routinely collected dataset, a reliance on coding to identify UWL, and missing data for some predictors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that combinations of simple blood test abnormalities could be used to identify patients with UWL who warrant referral for investigation, while people with combinations of normal results could be exempted from referral.
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Dolly SO, Jones G, Allchorne P, Wheeler D, Ali S, Mukadam Y, Zheng S, Rahman L, Sindhar J, Moss CL, Harari D, Van Hemelrijck M, Cunliffe A, De Michele LV. The effectiveness of the Guy's Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC) in detecting cancer and serious conditions in vague symptom patients. Br J Cancer 2021; 124:1079-1087. [PMID: 33402736 PMCID: PMC7783491 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01207-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid Diagnostic Clinics (RDC) are being expanded nationally by NHS England. Guy's RDC established a pathway for GPs and internal referrals for patients with symptoms concerning for malignancy not suitable for a site-specific 2WW referral. However, little data assessing the effectiveness of RDC models are available in an English population. METHODS We evaluated all patients referred to Guy's RDC between December 2016 and June 2019 (n = 1341) to assess the rate of cancer diagnoses, frequency of benign conditions and effectiveness of the service. RESULTS There were 96 new cancer diagnoses (7.2%): lung (16%), haematological (13%) and colorectal (12%)-with stage IV being most frequent (40%). Median time to definitive cancer diagnosis was 28 days (IQR 15-47) and treatment 56 days (IQR 32-84). In all, 75% were suitable for treatment: surgery (26%), systemic (24%) and radiotherapy (14%). Over 180 serious non-neoplastic conditions were diagnosed (35.8%) of patients with no significant findings in two-third of patients (57.0%). CONCLUSIONS RDCs provide GPs with a streamlined pathway for patients with complex non-site-specific symptoms that can be challenging for primary care. The 7% rate of cancer diagnosis exceeds many 2WW pathways and a third of patients presented with significant non-cancer diagnoses, which justifies the need for rapid diagnostics. Rapid Diagnostic Centres (RDCs) are being rolled out nationally by NHS England and NHS Improvement as part of the NHS long-term plan. The aim is for a primary care referral pathway that streamlines diagnostics, patient journey, clinical outcomes and patient experience. This pilot study of 1341 patients provides an in-depth analysis of the largest single RDC in England. Cancer was diagnosed in 7% of patients and serious non-cancer conditions in 36%-justifying the RDC approach in vague symptom patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geraint Jones
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), Medical Oncology, London, UK
- South East London Cancer Alliance, London, UK
| | - Paula Allchorne
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), Medical Oncology, London, UK
| | - Daniel Wheeler
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sunnyath Ali
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Yaseen Mukadam
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sifan Zheng
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Loay Rahman
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jan Sindhar
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Louise Moss
- King's College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Translational Oncology and Urology Research (TOUR), London, UK
| | - Danielle Harari
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), Medical Oncology, London, UK
- King's College London, Geriatric and Acute Medicine, Department of Ageing and Health, London, UK
| | - Mieke Van Hemelrijck
- King's College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Translational Oncology and Urology Research (TOUR), London, UK
| | - Anthony Cunliffe
- Joint National Lead Macmillan GP Adviser and Joint Clinical Chair, South East London Cancer alliance, London, UK
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Nicholson BD, Aveyard P, Price SJ, Hobbs FR, Koshiaris C, Hamilton W. Prioritising primary care patients with unexpected weight loss for cancer investigation: diagnostic accuracy study. BMJ 2020; 370:m2651. [PMID: 32816714 PMCID: PMC7424394 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m2651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To quantify the predictive value of unexpected weight loss (WL) for cancer according to patient's age, sex, smoking status, and concurrent clinical features (symptoms, signs, and abnormal blood test results). DESIGN Diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING Clinical Practice Research Datalink electronic health records data linked to the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service in primary care, England. PARTICIPANTS 63 973 adults (≥18 years) with a code for unexpected WL from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cancer diagnosis in the six months after the earliest weight loss code (index date). Codes for additional clinical features were identified in the three months before to one month after the index date. Diagnostic accuracy measures included positive and negative likelihood ratios, positive predictive values, and diagnostic odds ratios. RESULTS Of 63 973 adults with unexpected WL, 37 215 (58.2%) were women, 33 167 (51.8%) were aged 60 years or older, and 16 793 (26.3%) were ever smokers. 908 (1.4%) had a diagnosis of cancer within six months of the index date, of whom 882 (97.1%) were aged 50 years or older. The positive predictive value for cancer was above the 3% threshold recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for urgent investigation in male ever smokers aged 50 years or older, but not in women at any age. 10 additional clinical features were associated with cancer in men with unexpected WL, and 11 in women. Positive likelihood ratios in men ranged from 1.86 (95% confidence interval 1.32 to 2.62) for non-cardiac chest pain to 6.10 (3.44 to 10.79) for abdominal mass, and in women from 1.62 (1.15 to 2.29) for back pain to 20.9 (10.7 to 40.9) for jaundice. Abnormal blood test results associated with cancer included low albumin levels (4.67, 4.14 to 5.27) and raised values for platelets (4.57, 3.88 to 5.38), calcium (4.28, 3.05 to 6.02), total white cell count (3.76, 3.30 to 4.28), and C reactive protein (3.59, 3.31 to 3.89). However, no normal blood test result in isolation ruled out cancer. Clinical features co-occurring with unexpected WL were associated with multiple cancer sites. CONCLUSION The risk of cancer in adults with unexpected WL presenting to primary care is 2% or less and does not merit investigation under current UK guidelines. However, in male ever smokers aged 50 years or older and in patients with concurrent clinical features, the risk of cancer warrants referral for invasive investigation. Clinical features typically associated with specific cancer sites are markers of several cancer types when they occur with unexpected WL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Nicholson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Paul Aveyard
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | | | - Fd Richard Hobbs
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Constantinos Koshiaris
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
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Zeeh D, Zeeh J. [Lack of appetite in the elderly]. MMW Fortschr Med 2020; 162:37-39. [PMID: 32780379 DOI: 10.1007/s15006-020-0747-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Zeeh
- Praxis Rheingalerie, Hauptstraße 41, D-50996, Köln, Deutschland.
| | - Joachim Zeeh
- Abteilung Hospiz- und Palliativversorgung, Sozialwerk Meiningen gGmbH, Deutschland
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Abstract
The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) led the development of a framework to help clinicians assess and manage people who may have serious spinal pathology. While rare, serious spinal pathology can have devastating and life-changing or life-limiting consequences, and must be identified early and managed appropriately. Red flags (signs and symptoms that might raise suspicion of serious spinal pathology) have historically been used by clinicians to identify serious spinal pathology. Currently, there is an absence of high-quality evidence for the diagnostic accuracy of most red flags. This framework is intended to provide a clinical-reasoning pathway to clarify the role of red flags. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(7):350-372. Epub 21 May 2020. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9971.
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Nicholson BD, Hamilton W, Koshiaris C, Oke JL, Hobbs FDR, Aveyard P. The association between unexpected weight loss and cancer diagnosis in primary care: a matched cohort analysis of 65,000 presentations. Br J Cancer 2020; 122:1848-1856. [PMID: 32291391 PMCID: PMC7283307 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0829-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We aimed to understand the time period of cancer diagnosis and the cancer types detected in primary care patients with unexpected weight loss (UWL) to inform cancer guidelines. Methods This retrospective matched cohort study used cancer registry linked electronic health records from the UK’s Clinical Practice Research Datalink from between 2000 and 2014. Univariable and multivariable time-to-event analyses examined the association between UWL, and all cancers combined, cancer site and stage. Results In all, 63,973 patients had UWL recorded, of whom 1375 (2.2%) were diagnosed with cancer within 2 years (days-to-diagnosis: mean 181; median 80). Men with UWL (HR 3.28 (2.88–3.73)) and women (1.87 (1.68–2.08)) were more likely than comparators to be diagnosed with cancer within 3 months. The association was greatest in men aged ≥50 years and women ≥70 years. The commonest cancers were pancreas, cancer of unknown primary, gastro-oesophageal, lymphoma, hepatobiliary, lung, bowel and renal-tract. The majority were late-stage, but there was some evidence of association with stage II and stage III cancers. In the 3–24 months after presenting with UWL, cancer diagnosis was less likely than in comparators. Conclusion UWL recorded in primary care is associated with a broad range of cancer sites of early and late-stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Nicholson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.
| | | | - Constantinos Koshiaris
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Jason L Oke
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - F D Richard Hobbs
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Paul Aveyard
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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