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Published on: November 30, 2016
Eating-related distress in cancer cachexia: multicentre self-reported questionnaire study
Tatsuma Sakaguchi1,2, Koji Amano3, Satomi Okamura4
1Department of Palliative and Supportive Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan sakaguchi.tatsuma@gmail.com.
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
|May 27, 2026
Summary
The Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) criteria better identify eating-related distress (ERD) in advanced cancer patients than European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC) criteria. AWGC criteria may capture ERD more effectively, warranting further validation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Cachexia significantly impacts patients with advanced cancer, affecting quality of life and treatment outcomes.
- Existing diagnostic criteria for cachexia, such as those from the European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC), may not fully capture the subjective experiences of patients.
- The Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) has proposed updated criteria emphasizing a multidimensional approach to cachexia diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the association between eating-related distress (ERD) and cachexia diagnosed by the AWGC criteria versus the EPCRC criteria in advanced cancer patients.
- To determine if the AWGC criteria are more sensitive in identifying patients experiencing significant ERD.
Main Methods:
- A multicentre survey was conducted among 192 adult patients with advanced cancer between November 2023 and June 2024.
- Eating-related distress was assessed using the Questionnaire for Eating-Related Distress in Patients with Advanced Cancer (QERD-P).
- Cachexia was diagnosed using both AWGC and EPCRC criteria, with associations to ERD analyzed via multiple linear regression models.
Main Results:
- Cachexia prevalence was 74% by AWGC criteria and 64% by EPCRC criteria.
- Anorexia scores were significantly linked to AWGC-defined cachexia but not EPCRC-defined cachexia.
- After adjusting for covariates, the total QERD-P score was significantly higher in patients meeting AWGC criteria (p=0.020) but not EPCRC criteria (p=0.095).
Conclusions:
- Cachexia defined by AWGC criteria demonstrates a stronger association with eating-related distress compared to EPCRC criteria.
- The inclusion of anorexia as a subjective symptom in AWGC criteria may enhance its ability to capture ERD-related aspects of cachexia.
- Further validation of the AWGC criteria is recommended to confirm their utility in clinical practice for assessing cachexia and associated distress.
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