The prevalence of nocturnal hypoxemia in advanced cancer.

Nocturnal hypoxemia is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with chronic respiratory disease. This relationship has not been explored in patients with cancer. This study examined the prevalence of nocturnal hypoxemia in patients admitted to a specialist palliative care unit, and explored relationships with demographic and physiological parameters, opioid or other sedative drug use, and daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and quality of life.

Use of a Cybex NORM dynamometer to assess muscle function in patients with thoracic cancer.

Background: The cachexia-anorexia syndrome impacts on patients' physical independence and quality of life. New treatments are required and need to be evaluated using acceptable and reliable outcome measures, e.g.