Key clinical point: Socioeconomic status did not predict survival in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss. Early recognition and management of cachexia, even at the time of cancer diagnosis, might result in improved survival.

Major finding: Compared with private insurance, Medicaid insurance (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.42 to 3.30) and lack of insurance (odds ratio, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.50 to 3.58) were associated with pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss. Among cachectic patients, comorbidity, histology, tumor grade, and disease stage were predictive of survival, but primary payer was not.

Study details: A retrospective review of medical records identified 1,366 patients with NSCLC consecutively treated at a tertiary care health system between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2013. Study patients were median age 64 years at diagnosis; 47% were females, and 33% were patients of nonwhite race. Pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss was present at the time of NSCLC diagnosis in 17%, 14%, 32%, and 38% of patients with stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively.

Disclosures: The researchers' financial disclosures were not relevant to the study.

Source: Lau S et al. JOP published online March 20 https://doi.org/10.1200/JOP.2017.025239