Palliative Care:Anorexia & CachexiaHong-Phuc Tran, M.D.g013

Learning Objectives• Identify reversible causes of anorexia

• Learn management of anorexia

• Explain features of cachexia

• Understand that cachexia is often caused by same factors that cause anorexia

• Understand that increased calories, and enteral / parenteral nutrition cannot reverse cachexia

Definitions

•Anorexia: loss of appetite and reduced caloric intake

•Cachexia: involuntary loss of more than 10% of premorbid weight and loss of muscle, visceral protein and lipolysis

•Starvation: loss of weight and loss of needed calories

Anorexia: Introduction• Anorexia is a decrease or loss of appetite

• Can be a symptom of a terminal disease process, such as cancer & end-stage CHF

• Prevalence of anorexia is 66% in patients with advanced cancer.

• Anorexia may occur in isolation or as part of anorexia-cachexia syndrome

• Management involves evaluating for reversible causes

Causes of Anorexia

•Medication side effects:GI causes▫Constipation, fecal Impaction▫Nausea, vomiting▫GERD, gastritis, gastro paresis▫Malabsorbtion: Pancreatic ca, diarrhea

•Dysphagia•Depression, anxiety•Oral problems: dry mouth, candidiasis,

stomatitis, dental pain, ulcers, poorly fitting dentures

•Metabolic disorders▫Thyroid problems▫Diabetes▫Adrenal insufficiency

•Altered taste and smell•Odors (e.g. certain smells of food)•Generalized weakness, lethargy

Cachexia: Introduction• A wasting syndrome characterized by disproportionate

loss of skeletal muscle over fat

• Primary cause of death in about 20% of all patients with cancer

• Often occurs concomitantly with anorexia, as it caused by same factors that cause anorexia

• Multi-factorial etiology not clearly understood, but chronic inflammation is core mechanism

• Tends to be very distressing for patients & families

Some Examples of Causes of Cachexia•Cancer•AIDS•Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease•Chronic renal insufficiency•Congestive heart failure•Cirrhosis•Dementia•Chronic infections•Autoimmune disease

Cachexia: Biochemical markers•Biochemical markers may be helpful in

assessing cachexia–Primary cachexia/anorexia is associated with

high CRP, low albumin– Increasing levels of CRP provide a measure of

chronic inflammation–Anemia & decreased lymphocyte count often

present– In patients with weight loss, normal albumin &

normal/slightly elevated CRP raise concerns for other causes of weight loss

Dietary habits in dying people

•Prospective study 151 advanced cancer patients dietary records aprox 7 mo before death▫Even patients with highest intakes had

weight loss▫Frequency of eating was important in total

energy intake▫Patients preferred typical foods over

supplements

Anorexia-Cachexia from Cancer• Distinct from other secondary causes of anorexia-cachexia– Includes correctable problems, including pain, infection,

emotional disorder, obstruction, constipation

• Not reversible with aggressive feeding / increased calories– Enteral and parenteral nutrition offer no significant benefits &

do not improve survival or comfort– Weight loss correlates with cytotoxic effects of & poor tumor

response to chemotherapy

• Often present at diagnosis of certain cancers– Non-small cell lung, upper GI, pancreatic

• Concomitant presence of anxorexia carries a poorer prognosis

Management of Anorexia

•Identify and treat reversible causes•Educate families, caregivers on natural

progression of disease•Evaluate whether anorexia is bothersome

to patient▫Anorexia may be more bothersome to

families & caregivers than to patient•Offer favorite foods•Smaller, frequent meals and snacks

Supplements and Medications

•Nutritional supplements–Oral protein shakes, protein powders

Take in ADDITION to food not instead of meals–Calorie dense supplement (Benecalorie)

Add to pureed foods, adds calories, no nutrition

•Appetite stimulants–Megesterol acetate–Marinol–Dexamethasone

Megesterol acetate (Megace)• Improves appetite and weight gain – Most of weight gain is from fat not lean muscle– Best absorbed when taken with high-fat meal

• Start with 400mg/day. If appetite not better in 2 weeks, then increase to 600-800mg/day.

• Takes a few weeks to take effect but longer duration of benefit than steroids

• Side effects: Increase risk of venous thromboembolism, fluid retention

• Contradictions: history of DVT , thrombophlebitis

• Do not discontinue abruptly if used more than 3 weeks (adrenal suppression); taper off slowly

Cannabinoids• Marinol (tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) improves weight

gain and appetite in patients with AIDs & cancer

• Start with small dose and up titrate to effect and tolerability

• 7.5mg to 15mg /day

• Example dosing: Marinol 2.5mg po TID one hour after meals

• Adverse side effects: anxiety, somnolence, neurotoxicity

Corticosteroids• Stimulates appetite short-term

• Dexamethasone preferred over other corticosteroids for appetite stimulation due to its relative lack of mineralocorticoid effect

• Rapid effect, long half life but effect limited 2-6 weeks

• Doses of 2-16 mg/day dexamethasone

• Side effects: fluid retention, increased infection risk, gastritis, insomnia, proximal muscle wasting with prolonged treatment, steroid psychosis

• Consider 1 week trial– If no improvement, then discontinue– If helps, then reduce to lowest effective dose. – Reassess need frequently; discontinue when no longer effective

Other agents

•Psychotropics- Mirtazapine, atypical antipsychotics–Mirtazapine can increase appetite , but also

may cause drowsiness, constipation–Atypical antipsychotics cause weight gain

side effect, caution diabetes, blood sugars•Fish oil –small study in pancreatic ca

patients showed increase in lean body mass•Thalidomide 200-400mg/day increased

weight in HIV/AIDS cachexia

Anorexia/Cachexia from Cancer: Examples of Correctable Causes & Management (1)

• Emotional disorders– Anxiolytics, antidepressants, counseling for patients

& families• Eating issues– Dietitian referral, multivitamin, zinc / flavoring food

with spices (for disturbed sense of smell or taste)• Oral problems– Oral moisturizers, antifungal meds to treat thrush

(if present), change meds that may cause dry mouth• Swallowing difficulties– Esophageal dilation, antifungal med for thrush (if

present)

Anorexia/Cachexia from Cancer: Examples of Correctable Causes & Management (2)

• Stomach issues– GERD- proton pump inhibitors– Gastric stimulants (for early satiety), treat n/v

• Bowel issues– Treat constipation / obstruction

• Malabsorption– Pancreatic enzymes

• Fatigue– anxiolytics, exercise protocol, sleep protocol

• Motivation issues– methylphenidate, exercise

• Pain– appropriate analgesics, nerve blocks, counseling

Artificial nutrition and Hydration?(ANH)•ANH is a medical treatment

▫Some states make it more difficult to withdraw than other life sustaining treatments

•Patients should have goals discussion of risk benefit regarding long term ANH▫Insertion of Gtube, NG tube ▫Risk aspiration with decline in condition

•Unclear benefits for dying patients

Summary• Don’t focus on appetite and weight– Let patient guide new eating habits– Liberalize dietary restrictions–Maintain muscle function

• Intervene early in disease–Nutritional supplements– Exercise– Consider medical therapies

• Address patient and families fears– Identify alternative non food methods of

expressing love, caring

References & Suggested Readings• AMA EPEC (Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care) at

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/epeco/selfstudy/module-3/module-3b-pdf• Holms S. A difficult clinical problem: diagnosis, impact and clinical management of cachexia

in palliative care. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2009 Jul; 15(7):320, 322-6.• Lasheen W, Walsh D. The cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome: myth or reality? Support

Care Cancer. 2010. Feb; 18(2):265-72. doi: 10.1007/s00520-009-0772-6.• Loprinzi CL, Laurie JA, Wieand HS, et al. Prospective evaluation of prognostic variables

from patient-completed questionnaires. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:601 607.• McGeer AJ, Detsky AS, O'Rourke K. Parenteral nutrition in cancer patients undergoing

chemotherapy: A meta-analysis. Nutrition. 1990;6:233.• Morrison RS, Meier DE. Clinical Practice: Palliative Care. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun

17;350(25):2582-90• Nelson K, Walsh D, Deeter P, et al. A phase II study of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for

appetite stimulation in cancer-associated anorexia. J Palliat Care. 1994 Spring;10(1):14-8.• Ruiz GV, Lopez-Briz E, Carbonell SR et al. Megesterol acetate for treatment of anorexia-

cachexia syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;3:CD004310. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004310.pub3.

• Shoemaker LK, Estfan B, Induru R, et al. Symptom management: an important part of cancer care. Cleve Clin J Med. 2011 Jan; 78(1):25-34. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.78a.10053.

Effective response to caregivers’ fears that loved ones are “starving” to deatha. Listen and assess for feelings of guilt b. Ask about cultural and religious valuesc. Explain physiologic differences between

starvation and anorexia-cachexiad. Explain artificial nutrition nor increased

oral intake will not likely improve survival or weight gain in end stage disease

e. All of the above

•Answer E

Primary anorexia –cachexia differs from starvation in that

a. Less protein synthesis occurs in anorexia cachexia due to decreased production of acute phase

b. Decreased cortisol levels suggest a chronically altered neuroendocrine state

c. Proinflamatory cytokines are commonly involved, causing immune dysfunction

•Answer C

▫Anorexia cachexia MORE protein synthesis▫Cortisol levels do not reflect change

Mr. K is a 67 year old male with metastatic colon ca, referred to hospice. Family is concerned he had no appetite and continues to lose weight.

a. Insert NG tube and start tube feedings

b. Reassure the family his weight loss is normal

c. Complete a history and physical

d. Order nystatin suspension swish and swallow tid

•Answer C

•Complete a H and P first to assess any reversible causes for anorexia cachexia

•Then consider possible treatments