We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Suboptimal Weight Affects Survival in Cervical Cancer

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 May 2016
Print article
Both overweight and underweight women with cervical cancer did not live as long as their normal-weight counterparts, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (OH, USA) and the University of North Carolina (UNC; Chapel Hill, USA) conducted a retrospective cohort study of 623 women with cervical cancer treated from July 2000 to March 2013, classifying the women according to their body mass index (BMI). In all, 4% of the women were underweight, 30% were normal weight, and 66% were overweight or obese. The primary outcome was overall survival; secondary outcomes included stage, histopathology, disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence free survival (RFS).

The results showed that the median overall survival time in overweight or obese women was six months shorter than in women of normal weight (22 versus 28 months); for underweight women, median overall survival time was cut in half (14 versus 28 months). There was no difference in age, stage at presentation, grade, or histology between weight categories. After controlling for prognostic factors, underweight and overweight/obese patients had worse median RFS than normal weight patients. The study was published on April 14, 2016, in in Gynecologic Oncology.

“In understanding the effect of BMI on cervical cancer outcomes, it is important to recognize that both extremes of weight appear to negatively impact survival. A potential unifying hypothesis connecting both extremes of weight to poor cancer prognosis is chronic systemic inflammation,” wrote lead author Leslie Clark, MD, of UNC, and colleagues. “Both patients with cancer cachexia/sarcopenia and overweight/obese patients are in a heightened inflammatory state, which may lead to increased cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis.”

"However, this is likely not the only mechanism of poor outcomes. Co-morbid medical conditions might account for some of the differences in survival, particularly in morbidly obese patients,” concluded the authors. “Providers should optimize weight in underweight and overweight/obese patients to attempt to improve outcomes in these women. Interventions that target nutritional counseling and physical activity should be explored in these populations.”

Related Links:
University of Cincinnati
University of North Carolina
Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Wireless Handheld Ultrasound System
TE Air

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: The permeable wearable electronics developed for long-term biosignal monitoring (Photo courtesy of CityUHK)

Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Enable Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring

Wearable electronics have become integral to enhancing health and fitness by offering continuous tracking of physiological signals over extended periods. This monitoring is crucial for understanding an... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.