Effect of Nutritional Support on Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer in a Palliative Care Unit

Abstract

The role of nutritional support on terminally ill patients with cancer in a palliative care unit has not been clarified. A total of 63 patients were retrospectively investigated; the patients receiving individualized nutritional support (intervention group [n = 22]) were compared to the others (control group [n = 41]). The intervention group received individualized nutritional support. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of patients between the groups. The prevalence of bedsores was significantly lower in the intervention group (14% vs 46%, P = .012). The prevalence of edema and the use of antibiotic therapies tended to be lower in the intervention group than in the control group (36% vs 54%, P = .19; 14% vs 27%, P = .34, respectively). Some terminally ill patients with cancer in a palliative care unit might benefit from nutritional support.

Performance of Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) in Patients With Advanced Cancer in Palliative Care

“…Our results can suggest, due to an evaluation of the domains, some potential modifiable aspects through nutrition counseling for patients and caregivers. The benefits for this group of patients include strategies on symptom management and improvement of food intake by meal adaptations (time, quantity, content), specific recipes that increase nutrition values of food and drinks, and/or adequate use of supplements 36 , 37 …”

“…Our results verified that the total score of the PG‐SGA showed better prognostic performance, reinforcing the need to reassess cutoff points for patients in palliative care for advanced cancer. Because nutrition intervention adjusted to individual needs may be beneficial to these patients, screening and assessing nutrition deficits are justified and required 25 , 29 , 36 , 37 …”

“…Currently, a large amount of scientific evidence supports the applicability of the PG‐SGA in other countries 17 . The limitations of this study were the noninclusion of inflammatory parameters (eg, C‐reactive protein and serum albumin level) and the nonassessment of the effect of nutrition intervention in cancer palliative care, since the benefits of nutrition support in malnourished populations are well documented 36 , 37 …”

Pain Perception in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome May Challenge the Interruption of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Neuroethics in Action

“…However, most patients in VS/UWS are unlikely to be intolerant of nutrition and hydration that are considered basic compassionate care because they promote physical and emotional well-being (54, 55). Withdrawal of ANH has biologic consequences including distress and pain (56).…”

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“…In der palliativen Situation kann parallel zu einer Strahlentherapie eine individuelle Ernährungsbetreuung die Nahrungsaufnahme und die Lebensqualität [129,130], Dekubitalgeschwüre [391] und möglicherweise sogar die Überlebenszeit signifikant verbessern [135]. Bei ausgewählten Karzinompatienten mit fortgeschrittener Erkrankung und erheblicher Einschränkung der Nahrungsaufnahme aufgrund einer Dünndarminsuffizienz kann eine eskalierende Ernährungstherapie einschließlich heimparenteraler Ernährung die Lebenszeit verlängern [156,392,393].…”