Workup For Unexplained Weight Loss

American academy of family physicians.
Workup for unexplained weight loss. Often a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss. It might indicate an underlying condition. Differential diagnosis a 2 step procedure determined diagnosis in patients with unexplained weight loss lankisch pg gerzmann m gerzmann jf et al.
Accurate evaluation is essential however because this problem is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Unexplained weight loss is defined as the unintentional loss of at least 10 pounds or 5 of body weight over a period of 6 to 12 months. Diagnosis and prognosis the first prospective follow up study from a secondary referral centre.
Clinically important weight loss is generally defined as loss of more than 5 percent of usual body weight over 6 to 12 months. Unintentional weight loss definition. Who is at.
Unexplained weight loss has many causes medical and nonmedical. This would be equivalent to a 200 pound man losing 10 pounds or a 130 pound woman losing 6 to 7 pounds. Information from your family doctor.
Sometimes a specific cause isn t found. It is a diagnostic challenge because while an underlying illness. For this reason it is important to seek medical attention if you or a family member have weight loss that cannot be explained.
1 if measured weights are not available the physician may use indirect means of assessment e g patient s self reported estimate of weight loss change in clothing size a. Usually an unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities of laboratory tests in addition to unexplained weight loss. Unintentional weight loss in older adults.