Body image distress in women and men with advanced pancreatic cancer approaching death - post-hoc analyses from the MISTRAL-trial.
Charlotte Goodrose-Flores, Stephanie E Bonn, Linda Björkhem-Bergman et al.
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In 30 seconds
This post-hoc analysis of data from the MISTRAL trial examined changes in body image distress and weight worries among 125 women and men with pancreatic cancer during the six months before death. Questionnaire data were assessed at monthly time points and analysed using mixed-effects linear models. Both concerns increased as death approached: the reported trajectory estimates were β = 3.54 (95% CI 1.67–5.41) for body image distress and β = 2.98 (95% CI 0.53–5.44) for weight worries. No statistically significant sex differences in rates of change were found.
Key findings
- Body image distress increased during the six months before death (β = 3.54, 95% CI 1.67–5.41).
- Weight worries also increased as death approached (β = 2.98, 95% CI 0.53–5.44).
- Rates of change did not differ significantly by sex; women tended to report greater body image distress near death, while men reported greater weight worries across time points.
Why it matters
Body image and weight concerns can remain important sources of distress in advanced pancreatic cancer, including near the end of life. The observed increases in both women and men suggest these concerns may warrant attention as illness progresses, alongside other palliative care needs. The findings also caution against assuming that these experiences follow clearly different trajectories by sex.
What to keep in mind
This was a post-hoc analysis of trial data, and the reported sex differences in patterns were not statistically significant.