General Medicine
Unintentional Weight Loss Workup
≥5% loss in 6 months — investigate malignancy, infection, GI / endocrine / psychiatric causes; targeted by symptoms.
Source: NICE NG12; BSG
Step 1 of ~3
info
Define + Initial Assessment
Significant unintentional weight loss: ≥5% body weight in 6–12 months OR ≥10% with comorbidity. Always investigate.
Common causes (categories):
• Malignancy (~25%): GI, lung, lymphoma, leukaemia, occult cancer.
• GI: malabsorption (coeliac, IBD, pancreatic insufficiency), peptic ulcer, achalasia.
• Endocrine: hyperthyroidism, T1DM, adrenal insufficiency, phaeo.
• Psychiatric: depression, anxiety, eating disorders.
• Infection: TB, HIV, chronic infection.
• Cardiac / respiratory cachexia: severe HF, COPD, ILD.
• Drug-induced.
• Social: poverty, dementia (forget meals), dental issues.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Inclisiran · PCSK9-targeted siRNA
- Glucagon · Hypoglycaemia Antidote / Endocrine Agent
- Prednisolone (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss) · Corticosteroid (systemic — SSNHL treatment)
- Enoxaparin · Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH)
- Tinzaparin sodium · Low molecular weight heparin
- Enoxaparin sodium · Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)
Pathways
- Sepsis Screening and Sepsis Six · UK Sepsis Trust; NICE NG51; Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021
- Chronic Fatigue Workup · NICE NG206; BMJ Best Practice
- Lymphadenopathy Workup · NICE NG12; BMJ Best Practice
- Pre-op Medical Clearance · NICE NG45; ESC 2022
- Secondary Hypertension Workup · NICE NG136; ESH 2023
- Splenomegaly Workup · BSH; BMJ Best Practice
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.