2063P - Lifestyle changes as cancer treatment: It is time to get specific with our patients

Background

In this study we seek to learn more about the lifestyle habits of our cancer patients, with a particular emphasis in exercise and eating behaviours. We choose to focus on these two areas as they have an outsized impact on clinical outcomes such as mortality, risk of relapse, quality of life, sarcopenia, duration of hospitalizations, post-surgical complications, response to immunotherapy and even overall survival rates.

Methods

Observational study across a cross-section of cancer patients at the Medical Oncology Service of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The statistical significance of lifestyle habit changes is tested through a form and IPAQ, MUST, and SARC-F surveys using chi-squared tests.

Results

We involved 100 patients whose average age was 61 years. 46% of patients had lung cancer, 30% breast cancer and 10% gastrointestinal cancer. 59% patients had stage-four cancer, 48% were receiving first-line treatment and 54% were being treated with immunotherapy or target therapies. 99% of individuals considered their diet as an important pillar in their cancer disease. However, we found that only 47% had discussed aspects of their nutrition with their oncologist, but this was not statistically associated with a reduced risk of malnutrition. 80% considered that a healthy lifestyle could help reduce the adverse effects of the treatment. The validated test results showed that 45% had an intermediate-high risk of malnutrition according to the MUST test and 14% had risk of sarcopenia according to the SARC-F test. Patients receiving immunotherapy or target therapies had a higher risk of malnutrition than those receiving other treatments (50 vs 42%, p=.507). 47% were sedentary according to the IPAQ test and 80% who did not perform physical activity would start an adapted exercise program if it were available.

Conclusions

Our patients present good high-level awareness about the generally positive ways in which lifestyle changes involving healthier eating and exercise habits can impact the outcome of their treatments. However, we appreciate a need for more specific nutritional and fitness recommendations that patients can immediately put into practice, as well their ranked impact on their health.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.