Abstract 2793
Background
Cachexia is an important outcome-modulating parameter in cancer patients. In the context of a randomized controlled trial on cachexia and nutritional therapy, the TiCaCONCO trial (NCT03058107 on Clinicaltrials.gov), the contacts between cancer patients and health care practitioners/oncologists were screened. The aim of this retrospective study is to identify in the charts the input of data on body weight (necessary to identify cachexia stage), relevant nutritional data and nutritional interventions triggered or implemented by oncologists and dieticians.
Methods
In a tertiary, university oncology setting, over a time span of 8 months (34 weeks), the charts of patients admitted to an oncology, gastroenterology or abdominal surgery unit were screened for the presence of information contributing to a cancer cachexia diagnosis. Data (patient characteristics, tumor type and location) was gathered.
Results
We analyzed 9694 files. In > 90% of patients, data on body weight was present. 118 new diagnoses of cancer were present in 9694 screenings (1.22% of patient contacts). Information on weight evolution or nutritional status was absent in 46% of cases. In contacts between oncologists and cancer patients, at the time of diagnosis, the prevalence of cachexia was 42%. In 14% of these patients, no nutritional information was present in the notes. In those 50 patients with cachexia, a nutritional intervention was initiated by the physician in 8 patients (16%). Nutritional interventions were documented in the medical note in 9% of the overall study population. Dieticians made notes regarding nutrition and weight in 42% of patients.
Conclusions
Newly diagnosed cancer patients are not systematically identified as being cachectic and if they are interventions in the field of nutrition therapy are largely lacking. Important barriers exist between Oncologists and Nutritionists, the former being mandatory to the success of a nutrition trial in cancer.
Clinical trial identification
NCT03058107.
Legal entity responsible for the study
Elisabeth De Waele.
Funding
Baxter, Nutricia.
Editorial Acknowledgement
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.