2122P - Clinical significance of oncology patients’ nutritional status assessment

Background

The catabolic activity of cancer combined with various side effects of cancer treatment, lead to decreased food intake, weight loss and muscle wasting, compromising patients’ clinical outcome and quality of life. As a result, the incidence of prolonged hospital stays is increasing. Thus, maintaining the nutrition balance is critical for health care services.

Methods

136 patients participated in this prospective observational study. Nutritional status was accessed via the patient generated-subjenctive global assessment (PG-SGA).

Results

Patients characteristics are depicted in the table. During a six-month period, 45 patients (33.1%) had no weight loss, 48 (35.3%) had lost up to 10% of their initial weight and 43 (31.6%) over 10%. 61 patients (44.9%) had decreased their food intake compared to a month ago. According to PS-SGA questionnaire, 57 patients (42%) had score up to 8, while 79 patients (58%) had score 9 or more, which is the limit for initiation of urgent nutrition intervention. Statistical analysis showed that age, chemotherapy or radiotherapy had no effect in body weight or food consumption change, neither in PG-SGA score (p>0.05 in all cases). Gender was related to BW change during the last two weeks, specifically more women had stable weight (54% compared to 32% of the men, p=0.037) and more men had reduced weight (45% vs 32% in women). Metastasis had significant role in the number of patients with PG-SGA, 66% of metastatic patients vs 34% of non-metastatic had score ≥9, (OR:3.8, 95% Cl: 1.7-8.5, p=0.0009). Moreover PG-SGA score was highly dependent of cancer site.

Table: 2122P

Characteristics of the study population

Conclusions

The results highlight the importance of early assessment of the nutritional status of cancer patients receiving oncology treatment according to patient and disease characteristics. A timely intervention for nutritional support of the patients being at risk for malnutrition and cachexia is crucial.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

N.G. Tsoukalas.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.