Clinical Study

Estimation of Cachexia among Cancer Patients Based on Four Definitions

Table 1

Characteristics of cancer patients identified as having cachexia based on the different definitions and compared with cancer patients without cachexia.

CharacteristicsCancer patients with cachexia ICD-9 code (799.4) Cancer patients with cachexia ICD-9 codes (cachexia, anorexia, abnormal weight loss, or feeding difficulties) Cancer patients with prescription for megestrol acetate, oxandrolone, somatropin or dronabinol Cancer patients with weight loss 5%   Cancer patients with cachexia by any definition Cancer patients without cachexia

Age, years, mean65.6*66.9**64.4*66.3**65.8**63.0
Gender, men, %34.137.046.7**49.7**46.9**38.4

Comorbidities, %

Stroke3.911.9**7.9**4.96.5**3.8
CHD27.3**35.1**33.7**26.8**29.5**16.7
Peripheral vascular disease4.47.9**4.8**5.1**5.3**2.5
CHF24.9**28.5**21.6**17.6**20.5** 10.0
Hypertension54.2**67.0**60.8**56.1**58.7**43.6
COPD38.1**32.6**26.2**18.1**21.6**11.4
Osteoarthritis11.725.1**15.9**19.1**18.9**11.7
Osteoporosis3.95.8**5.1**5.0**4.8**3.0
Diabetes16.624.4**24.0**26.3**25.9**17.2

Cancer type, %

Breast8.8 **13.9**20.531.3**26.5*24.2
Colorectal11.211.810.311.811.710.3
Esophagus7.3**5.1**2.9**1.52.5**1.0
Gastric5.9**4.7**5.0**2.2*3.0**1.3
Head/neck7.3**9.0**2.83.9**4.6**2.4
Liver2.42.11.12.11.91.8
Lung40.5**26.8**33.5**15.620.3**13.6
Pancreas3.93.47.9**2.23.9**2.2
Prostate12.7**23.1**16.1**29.4**25.7**43.3

Tumor stage, %

In situ0.5**2.4**3.5**8.46.66.9
Local16.6**33.0**25.5**50.4*42.3**54.3
Regional48.8**41.1**39.2**28.2**31.9**24.3
Distant31.2**21.1**28.9**10.716.9**12.1
Unknown2.92.42.92.32.42.4

cachexia based on any of the 4 definitions (no ICD-9 diagnostic codes, prescription medications or 5% weight loss). , chi-square test or -test comparing each cachexia definition to cancer patients without cachexia. Stroke/TIA ICD-9 code = 435.xx, 436.xx, CHD = 410.xx, 411.xx, 412.xx, 414.xx, 429.2, 440.xx or procedures = 36.0x, 36.1x, 38.12–38.14, 38.16, 38.18, 38.34, 38.44, 39.22–39.26, 39.50 or CPT codes = 33510–33516, 33517–33545, 33572, 33877, 34800–34832, 35061–35103, 35301, 35311–35381, 35390, 35450–35481, 35482–35495, 35500–35683, 92980–92981, 92982–92984, 92995–92966, PVD = 443.xx, 39.29, CHF = 428.xx, hypertension = 401.xx, 402.xx, 404.xx, osteoarthritis = 715.xx, osteoporosis = 733.00–733.09, 737.40, 737.41, COPD = 493.20–493.22, 496, 491.00–491.21, 491.8, 491.9, diabetes = 250.xx, 362.0x, 366.41.