Incidence of cachexia in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer at the beginning of rehabilitation intervention

[Purpose] We examined the incidence of cachexia at the beginning of rehabilitation in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. [Participants and Methods] Patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were prescribed physical therapy and occupational therapy by their rehabilitation doctor and completed the survey item were targeted. We administered the cancer cachexia assessment and evaluated activities of daily living, and nutritional status in all participants. [Results] There were 15 patients in the normal group, 8 in the normal low-nutrition group, 16 in the pre-cachexia group, and 57 in the cachexia group. The cachexia group showed significantly lower nutritional status, and were less able to perform activities of daily living than the normal and pre-cachexia groups. [Conclusion] The incidence of cachexia among study participants was 17% in the pre-cachexia group and 59% in the cachexia group at the beginning of rehabilitation. Patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer may have a higher incidence of cachexia at the beginning of rehabilitation.