Table 3.
Baseline and treatment characteristics according to weight-trajectory category.
| Characteristic | Stable (n = 172) | Gradual loss (n = 185) | Marked loss (n = 245) | Recovery (n = 78) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 58.6 ± 12.7 | 57.4 ± 13.1 | 56.9 ± 12.8 | 59.0 ± 12.5 | 0.42 |
| Male sex | 100 (58.1) | 111 (60.0) | 160 (65.3) | 43 (55.1) | 0.18 |
| Baseline BMI, kg/m2 | 26.0 ± 4.5 | 25.1 ± 4.4 | 23.6 ± 4.7 | 25.4 ± 4.3 | <0.001 |
| Baseline weight loss ≥5% | 20 (11.6) | 34 (18.4) | 78 (31.8) | 11 (14.1) | <0.001 |
| Albumin, g/L | 39.5 ± 4.7 | 38.4 ± 4.8 | 36.5 ± 5.3 | 38.6 ± 4.9 | <0.001 |
| Baseline PNI | 49.0 ± 5.7 | 47.3 ± 5.8 | 43.8 ± 6.4 | 47.1 ± 5.9 | <0.001 |
| Head and neck cancer | 35 (20.3) | 52 (28.1) | 89 (36.3) | 20 (25.6) | 0.002 |
| Upper gastrointestinal cancer | 20 (11.6) | 28 (15.1) | 53 (21.6) | 11 (14.1) | 0.01 |
| Concurrent chemotherapy | 80 (46.5) | 106 (57.3) | 175 (71.4) | 41 (52.6) | <0.001 |
| Severe toxicity, grade ≥3 | 19 (11.0) | 39 (21.1) | 103 (42.0) | 17 (21.8) | <0.001 |
| Enteral nutritional support | 8 (4.7) | 18 (9.7) | 69 (28.2) | 11 (14.1) | <0.001 |
| Treatment interruption | 12 (7.0) | 25 (13.5) | 67 (27.3) | 11 (14.1) | <0.001 |
| Hospitalization during treatment | 9 (5.2) | 17 (9.2) | 55 (22.4) | 8 (10.3) | <0.001 |
Values are presented as mean ± SD or n (%). The marked-loss trajectory was defined as ≥5% weight reduction from baseline during radiotherapy.