The incidence and impact of low body mass index on patients with operable lung cancer

Summary Background & aims To prospectively assess the nutritional status of patients referred for lung cancer surgery, as well as to assess the prognostic value of nutritional status in determining the surgical outcome. Methods One hundred and forty-six patients with potentially operable lung cancer were recruited. Loss of appetite and weight loss were recorded. All patients had serum albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) measured. Surgical outcome were noted. Results Mean age was 69 (range 42–85) years; 29/146 were not referred for surgery. Eight patients underwent failed thoracotomy. In the remaining 109 patients, mean BMI was 26. Seven patients had BMI of 19 or less. Forty-four patients had ideal body weight. The majority of patients ( n =58) were overweight. Mean serum albumin was 37 g/l and lower than 30 g/l in 5 cases. There were 4% postoperative deaths and 32% with poor surgical outcome. There was no statistical difference in mean BMI, serum albumin, loss of appetite or weight loss between the two outcome groups. Conclusion BMI is usually well preserved in patients with operable lung cancer. There was no association between low BMI, low serum albumin, loss of appetite or weight loss, and postoperative death or poor surgical outcome in this study.