Abstract
Body weight loss is an important feature of heart failure (HF) and tumors. It is related to both reduced survival and adverse reactions to therapy in both of these conditions. The mechanisms of body weight loss in patients with HF and tumors are considered to be similar. Yet, studies comparing those two populations are generally lacking. The aim of this study was to compare anthropometric and laboratory data, related to weight loss, between patients with chronic HF and patients with different tumors as well as control population. Laboratory and anthropometric data on 143 consecutive patients with chronic HF and malignant diseases as well as data for 20 controls were collected. Patients with HF had lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin compared to controls. Anthropometric measurements revealed lower body mass index (BMI), muscle strength, mid-arm circumference, and waist circumference in patients with HF compared to controls. Measurements of biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfolds were also lower in HF group. Compared to solid tumor group, HF patients had lower levels of CRP and higher levels of hemoglobin. Solid tumor patients had lower values of BMI and subscapular skinfold thickness, as well as higher muscle strength compared to HF group. Finally, compared to patients with solid hematological tumors, HF group had lower levels of albumin, lower muscle strength, as well as lower mid-arm circumference. We found differences in anthropometric and laboratory features, related to weight loss, in patients with HF compared to control population that were expected. On the other hand, observed differences in HF group compared to patients with various tumors could imply different pathophysiological mechanisms of weight loss between those groups. Such data could serve as a cornerstone for studies with larger numbers of patients and deeper pathophysiological insight.
Highlights
Weight loss is a common finding in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and tumors, as well as in other chronic diseases
The same mechanisms responsible for weight loss are responsible for some important laboratory and anthropometric features that can be found in patients suffering from chronic HF or tumor diseases
Chronic HF was diagnosed in 45 patients (33 had ischemic cardiomyopathy, 7 had dilated cardiomyopathy, and 5 had valvular cardiomyopathy)
Summary
Weight loss is a common finding in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and tumors, as well as in other chronic diseases. The same mechanisms responsible for weight loss are responsible for some important laboratory and anthropometric features that can be found in patients suffering from chronic HF or tumor diseases. Among them C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, and albumin are best studied Their values were, incorporated in the recent definitions of the most pronounced form of weight loss called cachexia [6, 9]. There are no studies that compared anthropometric and laboratory features of patients with chronic HF and tumor diseases. The mechanisms of body weight loss in patients with HF and tumors are considered to be similar Studies comparing those two populations are generally lacking. The aim of this study was to compare anthropometric and laboratory data, related to weight loss, between patients with chronic HF and patients with different tumors as well as control population
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