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.
Characteristics
Cancer 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, mean
65.6*
66.9**
64.4*
66.3**
65.8**
63.0
Gender, men, %
34.1
37.0
46.7**
49.7**
46.9**
38.4
Comorbidities, %
Stroke
3.9
11.9**
7.9**
4.9
6.5**
3.8
CHD
27.3**
35.1**
33.7**
26.8**
29.5**
16.7
Peripheral vascular disease
4.4
7.9**
4.8**
5.1**
5.3**
2.5
CHF
24.9**
28.5**
21.6**
17.6**
20.5**
10.0
Hypertension
54.2**
67.0**
60.8**
56.1**
58.7**
43.6
COPD
38.1**
32.6**
26.2**
18.1**
21.6**
11.4
Osteoarthritis
11.7
25.1**
15.9**
19.1**
18.9**
11.7
Osteoporosis
3.9
5.8**
5.1**
5.0**
4.8**
3.0
Diabetes
16.6
24.4**
24.0**
26.3**
25.9**
17.2
Cancer type, %
Breast
8.8 **
13.9**
20.5
31.3**
26.5*
24.2
Colorectal
11.2
11.8
10.3
11.8
11.7
10.3
Esophagus
7.3**
5.1**
2.9**
1.5
2.5**
1.0
Gastric
5.9**
4.7**
5.0**
2.2*
3.0**
1.3
Head/neck
7.3**
9.0**
2.8
3.9**
4.6**
2.4
Liver
2.4
2.1
1.1
2.1
1.9
1.8
Lung
40.5**
26.8**
33.5**
15.6
20.3**
13.6
Pancreas
3.9
3.4
7.9**
2.2
3.9**
2.2
Prostate
12.7**
23.1**
16.1**
29.4**
25.7**
43.3
Tumor stage, %
In situ
0.5**
2.4**
3.5**
8.4
6.6
6.9
Local
16.6**
33.0**
25.5**
50.4*
42.3**
54.3
Regional
48.8**
41.1**
39.2**
28.2**
31.9**
24.3
Distant
31.2**
21.1**
28.9**
10.7
16.9**
12.1
Unknown
2.9
2.4
2.9
2.3
2.4
2.4
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.