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Unintentional weight loss: diagnosis and prognosis. The first prospective follow‐up study from a secondary referral centre
Author(s) -
Lankisch P. G.,
Gerzmann M.,
Gerzmann J.F.,
Lehnick D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00771.x
Subject(s) - medicine , weight loss , referral , prospective cohort study , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , disease , malignant disease , surgery , cancer , obesity , physics , family medicine , optics
. Lankisch PG, Gerzmann M, Gerzmann J‐F, Lehnick D (Municipal Clinic of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, and University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany). Unintentional weight loss: diagnosis and prognosis. The first prospective follow‐up study from a secondary referral centre. J Intern Med 2001; 249: 41–46. Objectives. To establish the incidence and causes of unintentional weight loss and to compare prognoses. Design. Prospective. Setting. Secondary referral centre. Subjects. 158 patients (89 female, 56%; 69 male, 44%) referred by general physicians for unexplained weight loss or for other reasons. In the latter case, weight loss was established after admission to hospital. Follow‐up lasted for up to 3 years. Main outcome measure. Determining the course of weight loss in patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed causes. Results. The cause of weight loss was established in 132 (84%) patients and remained unclear in 26 (16%). Reasons were non‐malignant (60% of patients) and malignant (24%) diseases. Psychological disorders represented 11% of the non‐malignant group. A gastrointestinal disease caused weight loss in 50 (30%) patients. Of malignant disorders, 53% (20 of 38 patients) were gastrointestinal. Amongst the non‐malignant group, 39% (30 of 77 patients) had somatic disorders. The prognosis for unknown causes of weight loss was the same as for non‐malignant causes. Conclusion. Contrary to common belief, weight loss is not usually due to a malignant disease. A gastrointestinal tract disorder accounts for weight loss in every third patient. If minimal diagnostic procedures cannot establish a diagnosis, then endoscopic investigation of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and function tests should be performed to exclude malabsorption.