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Weight change and lung cancer: Relationships with symptom distress, functional status, and smoking
Author(s) -
Sarna Linda,
Lindsey Ada M.,
Brecht MaryLynn,
Dean Hannah,
McCorkle Ruth
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770170508
Subject(s) - distress , medicine , lung cancer , cancer , oncology , clinical psychology
The pattern of weight change (at five 6‐week intervals beginning 2 months after diagnosis of advanced disease) is described in adults with progressive lung cancer ( N = 60). Weight loss of 10% or more at study entry occurred in 35% of subjects; 37% lost weight at three or more intervals; and 25% lost weight at only one interval. Pre‐illness weight loss was moderately correlated with subsequent decreased functional status (Enforced Social Dependency Scale) at Times 1, 2, and 3 ( r = −.49, r = −.43, r = −.48, p < .001). Weight loss correlated with subsequent increased symptom distress (Symptom Distress Scale, SDS) at three times (Times 2,4, and 5: r = −.34, r = −.30, r = −.43, p < .05). Chemotherapy (50% of subjects) and smoking (25% at study entry) predicted weight loss from Time 1 to 5, explaining 28% of the variance.