455P - Assessment of nutritional status and quality of life among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Background

Nutritional status and proper dietary intake have a vital role in cancer prognosis and progression. Alterations in metabolic system due to chemotherapy and cancer can lead to high prevalence of malnutrition. It can be attributable to cancer, therapy effect and decreased food intake. Malnutrition has negative impact on patients treatment, side effects, immunity, Quality of life (QOL) and prolonged hospital stay and expense. Our study aims to assess the nutritional status, timely intervention and QOL in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

A prospective hospital-based multidisciplinary interventional study was conducted in 97 patients with known histological malignancies who had received chemotherapy as inpatients in oncology wards at Ramaiah hospital in Bangalore for a period of six months. Detailed interview of patients and their care-takers were analysed in structured formats. Malnutrition and QOL were assessed using PG-SGA scale and EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire respectively. QOL was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the chemotherapy whereas PG-SGA scale was done for all the cycles and dietary intervention was given to patients who were moderately and severely malnourished. Follow up was done for all the patients till the end of the therapy.

Results

Out of 97 patients 61% were females and 36% were males. During the chemotherapy third cycle 19.5% patients were found to be well nourished (stage A) 63% were moderately malnourished (stage B) and 17.5% were severely malnourished (stage C). After the chemotherapy sixth cycle 60% were in stage A and 34% were in stage B and 6% were in stage C. Qol was also assessed and the total score before and after the chemotherapy was found to be 54.2 + 11.46 and 46.16 + 9.77 respectively Whereas 23% of the patients showed higher score (9.8 + 3.6) in physical domain before the treatment and at the end of the treatment the score increased (22 + 4.1). Emotional domain before treatment (5.9 + 2.5) and after treatment (5.3 + 2.3) social (3.6 + 1.4 and 3.5 + 1.4) cognitive (2.04 + 0.31 and 2.04 + 0.30) and role (5.9 + 1.5 and 3.9 + 1.4).

Conclusions

Pre-emptive assessment of nutritional status and prompt dietary guidance and intervention can improve patient’s nutritional status and QOL.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Sri Prathima.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.