Malnutrition and food intake in relation to quality of life in head and neck cancer patients

A Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Part I: At Diagnosis

“…In a previous study of malnutrition and HQL in head and neck cancer, a significant correlation between malnutrition and death at a 2‐year follow‐up was found. 25 It is therefore important to identify patients at risk of malnutrition at an early stage even before treatment starts. These patients should be given nutritional advice, preferably by a dietitian, and the physicians and nurses should be sensitive to changes in patients' eating ability to avoid weight loss and subsequent malnutrition.…”

Cancer cachexia update in head and neck cancer: Definitions and diagnostic features

“…The presence of cachexia is a poor prognostic sign for patients with head and neck cancer and, as the literature demonstrates, has a negative impact on QOL and morbidity as well . In these patients, the factors that characterize cachexia, such as weight loss, are independent determinants of QOL . In fact, the presence of cachexia in patients with head and neck cancer is associated with poorer global QOL scores, but also major physical (worse mobility, limited usual activities), psychological/emotional (increased anxiety and depression), and social consequences (patient‐caregiver dynamics, overall cost of care) …”

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Current Use of Nutrition Support in Patients With Cancer

“…In a nonselected population of hospitalized patients, severe malnutrition has been shown to be an independent risk factor for nosocomial infections 5 . In patients with cancer, poor nutrition status has been associated with lower response to treatment, 6 – 8 increased toxicity of treatment, 8 – 10 lower survival rates, 4 and poorer quality of life 8 , 11 – 13 . Last, malnutrition results in higher overall treatment costs since it is responsible for an average of 5.8 additional days of hospitalization 14 …”