Body mass index above 24 is beneficial for the 6-month survival rate in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with extrahepatic metastasess

Background and Objectives: To investigate the effect of overweight status on the 6-month survival rate in patients with extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods and Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 51 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic metastases between 2007 and 2010 before treatment. The associations among overweight status (body mass index [BMI] > 24 kg/m²), demographic variables, and survival outcome were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: BMI > 24 kg/m² was significantly associated with the 6-month survival rate (p=0.042). Gender (p=0.149), Child Pugh classification (p=0.149), Okuda staging (p=0.093), and albumin concentration > 3.5 mg/dL (p=0.082) showed marginal survival benefits in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis confirmed that BMI > 24 kg/m² was an independent prognostic factor for the 6-month survival rate (p=0.03). Conclusions: BMI > 24 kg/m² was associated with an improved 6-month survival rate in patients with extrahepatic metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.