Table 1

Enrolment and baseline characteristics of 200 weight losing patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer

Experimental group (n = 95)Control group (n = 105)
Values are mean (SEM) or percentage of group (%).
HS, health score.
Enrolment characteristics
    Sex (M:F)54:4156:49
    Age (y)67 (1)68 (1)
    Histological proof of diagnosis55 (58%)61 (58%)
    Stage of disease
        II31 (33%)40 (39%)
        III14 (15%)21 (20%)
        IV49 (52%)42 (41%)
    Usual weight (kg)72.7 (1.2)74.7 (1.4)
    Pancreatic enzyme supplementation30 (32%)29 (28%)
Baseline characteristics (0 weeks)ExperimentalControl
    Weight at baseline (kg)60.3 (1.1) (n = 88)61.4 (1.2) (n = 97)
    Duration of weight loss (weeks)26.0 (2.1) (n = 88)25.3 (2.0) (n = 96)
    Rate of weight loss (kg/4 weeks)2.9 (0.2) (n = 88)3.2 (0.3) (n = 96)
    % weight loss from usual weight17.9 (0.9) (n = 88)17.1 (0.8) (n = 97)
    Body mass index (kg/m2)21.8 (0.4) (n = 88)22.0 (0.4) (n = 97)
    Lean body mass (kg)43.3 (0.9) (n = 80)43.4 (0.9) (n = 91)
    Karnofsky performance score74.9 (1.2) (n = 88)73.9 (1.0) (n = 98)
    EQ-5Dindex0.62 (0.03) (n = 86)0.62 (0.03) (n = 91)
    EQ-5Dvas52.3 (2.2) (n = 87)57.2 (1.9) (n = 96)
    EORTC QLQ-C30 global HS48.8 (2.2) (n = 86)53.1 (2.2) (n = 95)
    EORTC QLQ-C30 physical function64.1 (2.2) (n = 87)67.7 (2.3) (n = 96)
    Meal intake (kcal/day)1504 (54) (n = 84)1613 (51) (n = 95)
    Meal intake (g protein/day)60 (2) (n = 84)63 (2) (n = 95)