TOPLINE:

Subjective health status was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction among patients with cancer, explaining more than 35% of variance when combined with nutritional factors, according to a cross-sectional study.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional investigation including 316 patients with cancer (mean age, 61.8 years; 65.2% women) at University Hospital Jena and 11 additional oncology centres across Germany from April 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024.
• Patients completed a structured paper-based questionnaire designed to assess aspects of integrative oncology — including health literacy, spirituality, physical activity, and nutrition — and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) using validated scales and study-specific items.
• Life satisfaction was measured using the L-1 scale (0 = not at all satisfied to 10 = completely satisfied), and subjective health literacy was assessed using an 11-item scale covering information seeking, comprehension, appraisal, and application.
• Outcomes included the association of life satisfaction with subjective health status, food intake, nutrition, health literacy, weight changes, and CAM.

TAKEAWAY:

• Subjective health status emerged as the strongest independent predictor of life satisfaction (P < .001). Overall, there was 35.1% of variance in life satisfaction (P < .001).
• Higher current food intake (P = .031) and fewer nutrition-related symptoms (P = .048) remained independently associated with greater life satisfaction after controlling for other factors.
• Weight loss was positively associated with life satisfaction (P = .020); however, significant differences in life satisfaction were observed between groups on the basis of the extent of weight loss, with patients who lost more than 10 kg showing lower satisfaction scores (P = .022).
• Health literacy showed a modest correlation with life satisfaction in unadjusted analyses (P = .001) but lost independent significance in multivariate models (P = .101), suggesting mediation through other factors. The use of CAM was not a significant predictor of life satisfaction.

IN PRACTICE:

"[The study] findings emphasize the need for a holistic approach to oncological care that integrates both functional and subjective dimensions," the authors wrote, adding that "nutritional symptoms and unintentional weight loss should be systematically assessed and managed, as they can impair physical functioning and negatively shape patients' perception of health and overall life satisfaction."

SOURCE:

This study was led by Luise Kiefer, Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany. It was published online on March 13, 2026, in BMC Cancer.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional design of the study did not allow causal inferences. Temporal developments during illness could not be captured. Data collection relied entirely on patient self-reports, leading to a risk for bias. The study could not account for socioeconomic position or tumour stage, potentially contributing to residual confounding. Voluntary participation may have led to selection bias.

DISCLOSURES:

This study did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.