Akagunduz, Digdem Dogan; Şahin, Hilal; Elmalı, Ferhan; Akagunduz, Baran

Objective: This study aimed to validate the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ) for Turkish older cancer patients and identify factors influencing appetite loss and related symptoms. The research question focused on whether the CASQ is a reliable tool for assessing appetite-related symptoms and determining associated risk factors in this population. Methods: A total of 240 cancer patients aged ≥70 years were recruited from a Turkish oncology clinic. Demographic, cancer-related, nutritional, functional, and psychological data were collected. Appetite was assessed using the CASQ and Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Structural validity, reliability, and diagnostic performance were evaluated through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with appetite loss. Results: The CASQ demonstrated high reliability and validity, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.971 and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) of 0.907. EFA and CFA supported a single-factor structure. A CASQ cutoff score of 32 showed high diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.971) with 88.9% sensitivity. Appetite loss was reported in 53.7% of patients and was significantly associated with stage IV cancer (OR: 10.112, p <.001), chemotherapy (OR: 2.960, p =.016), severe pain (OR: 3.089, p =.003), malnutrition (OR: 4.459, p =.033), polypharmacy (OR: 2.213, p =.040), and poor performance status (OR: 5.245, p =.017). Conclusions: The CASQ is a validated, reliable tool for assessing appetite-related symptoms in Turkish older cancer patients. Findings underscore the need for integrated nutritional and psychological care. Future research should develop targeted interventions to mitigate appetite loss and its impact on quality of life in this population.

Torun, Mümtaz Taner; Ünver, Ethem; Yalçın, Yusuf; Kanmaz, Lutfi; Seçkin, Ender

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is mostly seen in adult populations. It is known that increased levels of several inflammatory mediators play roles in OSAS and related comorbidities. Calprotectin is an inflammatory mediator that increases in some diseases such as Behc¸et’s syndrome, bowel diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether calprotectin can be used as a biomarker in OSAS by determining the relation between serum calprotectin levels and OSAS severity. Study design: Cohort study. Methods: A prospective study was planned. Eighty-three patients undergoing polysomnography were included in the study and evaluated prospectively. Thirty patients were classified as non-OSAS (group 1), 18 as mild OSAS (group 2), 15 as moderate OSAS (group 3) and 20 as severe OSAS (group 4). Calprotectin values were measured in the non-OSAS patients (group 1) and in the patients with OSAS (groups 2, 3 and 4). The OSAS groups were also compared with each other. Results: Serum calprotectin values ranged between 70.61 and 1468.04 ng/ml. No significant difference in calprotectin levels was found between the OSAS and normal groups. However, statistically significantly increased calprotectin values were determined in the severe OSAS group (group 4) when all groups were compared. Conclusion: Calprotectin values were elevated in OSAS patients and it can be used as a marker of severe OSAS. Future studies can support our study.