Weight loss Flashcards
Define weight loss.
A measurable decline in body weight either intentionally or from malnutrition or illness.
How would you differentiate between mild, moderate and high weight loss?
mild - 5% loss of body weight
moderate - 5-10%
high - more than 10% loss
What is malnutrition?
malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients
List some GI causes of weight loss.
Malabsorption - coeliac disease, IBD
Structural - pharyngeal pouch, strictures, malignancy
Gastric or duodenal ulcers
What other GI clinical symptoms would you ask about in a patient complaining of weight loss?
mouth ulcers, dysphasia, dyspepsia, N/V, early satiety, abdominal pain, change in bowel habit (diarrhoea, constipation, haematochezia, mucus in stool, black stool)
What signs would you be looking for in a weight loss patient’s full blood count?
anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia/leucocyotis
What are the endocrine causes of weight loss?
Addison’s, diabetes, hyperthyroid
What are some inflammatory causes of weight loss?
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica
Define cancer.
An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and in some cases metastasise or spread
What are the three screening programmes available in the UK?
breast - women aged 50-70 every 3 years
bowel - aged 50-74 every 2 years
cervical - women aged 25-64 every 3 years
Differentiate between the cancer types.
Carcinoma: derived from epithelial cells e.g. breast, prostate, lung, pancreas, colon
Sarcoma: connective tissues e.g. bone, cartilage, fat, nerve
Lymphoma and leukaemia: arise from haematopoietic cells
Germ cell: derived from pluripotent cells - present in testicles or ovaries
Blastoma: derived from immature ‘precursor’ cells or embryonic tissue
Describe how cancer cells spread through the body.
- growing into or invading nearby normal tissue
- moving through the walls of nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels
- travelling through lymphatic system and bloodstream to other parts of the body
- stopping in small blood vessels in a distant location, invading the blood vessel walls, and moving into the surrounding tissue
- growing in this tissue until a tumour forms
- causing new blood vessels to grow, which creates a blood supply that allows the tumour to continue growing
What are the common sites and symptoms of cancer metastasis?
Brain: headaches, seizures, vertigo
Respiratory: cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea
Lymphadenopathy
Liver: hepatomegaly, jaundice
Skeletal: pain, fractures, spinal cord compression
What is frailty?
a common clinical syndrome of increased vulnerability and functional impairment due to progressive changes in multiple different organ syndromes
What are the five Fried criteria for frailty?
- Unintentional weight loss
- Exhaustion
- Muscle weakness
- Slowness while walking
- Reduced activity levels
What is sacropenia?
loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength as a result of aging
Discuss the different areas for management of frailty.
Medical: problems, medications, treatment, cognition
Nursing: continence, sleep, nutrition, behaviour
PT: mobility, gait, balance, aids
OT: ADLs, cognition, environment
Social work: POC
SLT, dietician, podiatry, optician, dentistry
List some of the features of depression.
think SIGECAPS
Sleep disorder (may be increased or decreased) Interest deficit (anhedonia) Guilt (worthlessness, hopelessness, regret) Energy deficit Concentration deficit Appetite disorder Psychomotor retardation or agitation Suicidality
What are some of the risk factors for the development of depression?
recent bereavement social isolation stroke chronic medical conditions polypharmacy
Using the DSM-5 criteria, how is a diagnosis of depression made?
> /=5 of the following symptoms for 2 weeks:
Core (diagnosis requires >/=1): depressed mood for most of the day, anhedonia in almost all activities
Additional: significant change in weight or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, indecisiveness or decreased ability to concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
List some examples of infections associated with weight loss.
TB, HIV, Hep C, infective endocarditis
What causes microcytic anaemia?
IDA thalassaemia sideroblastic anaemia lead poisoning anaemia of chronic disease
What causes normocytic anaemia?
haemorrhage
renal failure
anaemia of chronic disease
IDA (early stages)
What causes macrocytic anaemia?
liver disease alcohol excess folate deficiency B12 deficiency myelodysplastic syndrome hypothyroidism haemolysis
List some of the causes of thrombocytosis.
trauma post surgical haemorrhage malignancy hyposplenism RA essential thrombocytosis
What are some of the causes of eosinophilia?
asthma acute drug allergy strongyloidiasis lymphoma leukaemia hypoadrenalism Churg-Strauss
On chest percussion, what are the causes of unilateral dullness, bilateral dullness and hyperresonance?
unilateral: pleural effusion, pneumonia, tumour
bilateral: pulmonary oedema (renal or heart failure)
hyperresonance: emphysema, pneumothorax