The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or of the U.S. Government.

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BACKGROUND The current study was conducted to assess symptom prevalence and symptom intensity and their relation to quality of life in medical oncology patients at a Veterans Affairs medical center. METHODS Consecutive inpatients and outpatients were asked to complete the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy (FACT‐G), Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), and the Brief Pain Inventory. Symptoms then were analyzed by their relation to Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and quality of life. RESULTS Two hundred forty patients participated. The median number of symptoms was 8 per patient (range, 0–30 symptoms). The 5 most prevalent symptoms were lack of energy (62%), pain (59%), dry mouth (54%), shortness of breath (50%), and difficulty sleeping (45%). Patients with moderate intensity pain had a median number of 11 symptoms and patients with moderate intensity lack of energy had a median number of 13 symptoms. The number of intense symptoms increased as the KPS decreased (P < 0.001). Patients with moderately intense pain or fatigue also were more likely to experience nausea, dyspnea, and lack of appetite. The number of symptoms rated as present on the MSAS was found to correlate significantly with the FACT‐G Sum Quality of Life score. CONCLUSIONS Intense symptoms were highly prevalent in this population. The presence of pain, lack of energy, or poor performance status should lead to comprehensive symptom assessment. Patients free of disease nevertheless still may experience intense symptoms. The number of symptoms present may be a helpful guide to quality of life. Routine comprehensive symptom assessment may identify a significant fraction of patients who urgently require intensive symptom palliation. Cancer 2000;88:1175–83. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

Although a threshold for 25(OH)D can be identified, we suggest that it should not be used to recommend optimal vitamin D status.

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