High BMI Associated With Improved Survival in DLBCL

According to the findings of a retrospective analysis of over 2,500 US military veterans diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) between 1998 and 2008, contrary to most findings and contrary to the party line regarding obesity and cancer, being overweight or obese at time of diagnosis correlated with improved survival.

This retrospective cohort study was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

BMI at time of diagnosis studied

Researchers from the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center sought to determine what, if any, the association might be between body mass index (BMI) at time of diagnosis and overall survival.

Their conclusion? "Being overweight or obese at the time of DLBCL diagnosis is associated with improved overall survival."

Among the cohort, the mean age at diagnosis was 68 and the percentage of patients who were considered to be overweight or obese was 64. When researchers set them against other MBI groups, they found that obese patients tended to be much younger, have fewer 'B' symptoms, and tended to be diagnosed early and therefore have stage I or II disease.

When they were compared to patients considered to have a normal BMI, they found a lower mortality for the overweight/obese group.

Source: JCO