Clinical, dietary and demographic characteristics interfering on quality of life of cancer patients

Abstract

Objective To estimate the dietary intake of cancer patients and its relation with clinical and demographic characteristics, and to assess the contribution of dietary intake, appetite/symptoms and clinical and demographic characteristics to their quality of life.Methods The consumption of energy and macronutrients of patients was estimated. The relation between dietary intake and clinical and demographic characteristics was evaluated by analysis of variance. The intake of energy and macronutrient of the patients was compared to the nutritional recommendations using 95% confidence interval. The Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ C-30) were used to assess appetite/symptoms and quality of life, respectively. The psychometric properties of the instruments were estimated. A structural equation model was prepared.Results In this study, 772 cancer patients (63.1% women) participated. There was a significant relation between dietary intake and work activity, economic class, specialty field of cancer, type of treatment and nutritional status. Patients’ energy and macronutrients intake was below recommended values. Both CASQ and EORTC QLQ C-30 were refined to fit the data. In the structural model, impaired appetite, more symptoms, presence of metastasis, being female and of higher economic classes were characteristics that significantly contributed to interfering in patients’ quality of life.Conclusion The dietary intake of oncology patients did not reach the recommended values. Different characteristics impacted on quality of life of patients and should be considered in clinical and epidemiological protocols.

Impact of an Oral Nutritional Protocol with Oligomeric Enteral Nutrition on the Quality of Life of Patients with Oncology Treatment-Related Diarrhea

“…In a Phase II trial of patients with nonsquamous, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), variations in QoL scores were determined by treatment cycles [ 33 ]. In a study including 772 cancer patients, impaired appetite, more symptoms, presence of metastasis, being female, and being of higher economic classes significantly impaired the QoL of patients [ 34 ].…”

Fatores Associados à Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde de Pacientes com Câncer em Tratamento Clínico

“…Dessa forma, os achados deste estudo confirmam que a ASG é uma ferramenta essencial para identificar precocemente o risco nutricional de pacientes submetidos aos tratamentos antioneoplásicos. Além disso, investigar o comprometimento do apetite e a presença de sintomas de impacto nutricional é fundamental em todas as fases do tratamento do câncer, independentemente do tipo de tumor, pois alterações do apetite são comuns nos pacientes com câncer e impactam na QVRS dos pacientes 17 .…”

“…A fadiga é um sintoma muito comum e frequentemente reportado por pacientes oncológicos em diversas fases da doença e/ou tratamento 16,17 , especialmente por aqueles que apresentam a doença em estágios mais avançados e em tratamento quimioterápico. Geralmente, os pacientes apresentam sensação persistente de cansaço, inclusive a mínimos esforços 3 .…”

Influência do Tratamento Quimioterápico no Comportamento Alimentar e Qualidade de Vida de Pacientes Oncológicos

“…Nesse sentido, foi analisada a correlação entre QV e comportamento alimentar, sendo identificada correlação positiva e significativa em T1 apenas para o domínio "dificuldade financeira" e consumo de carnes e peixes, mostrando que esses alimentos foram priorizados na segunda fase do estudo, o que pode apontar um maior nível de informação obtida no que diz respeito ao aumento do consumo de proteínas como mudança alimentar durante o tratamento quimioterápico. O estudo de Campos et al 26 mostrou que a ingestão dietética não estava relacionada de forma significativa com a QV de pacientes com câncer. Por outro lado, destaca--se a influência significativa do apetite e dos sintomas da doença para a QV desses pacientes, bem como de variáveis clínicas e demográficas, corroborando outros estudos 27,28 .…”