Quality of life and symptom burden improve in patients attending a multidisciplinary clinical service for cancer cachexia: a retrospective observational review.

ABSTRACT Background Cancer cachexia negatively affects quality of life (QoL) and increases symptom burden. A multimodal treatment approach may optimise 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 2017-2020 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 (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) and Functional Assessment Anorexia/Cachexia Treatment (FAACT). Physical function was assessed using the 30s sit-to-stand (STS) test and handgrip strength (HGS). Results Overall, 162 patients (age=67.2±12.0yrs) 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 STS (p=0.133) or HGS (p=0.734) occurred over time. Improvements in EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL overall QoL (Δ10.7±2.5, p Conclusion Significant improvements in QoL/symptoms were associated with attending a cachexia clinical service. Our findings support using multidisciplinary, multimodal cancer cachexia treatment approaches to improve patient wellbeing.