Nutritional status of cancer patients in chemotherapy; dietary intake, nitrogen balance and screening

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate a short screening sheet (SSM) for malnutrition and to investigate the nutritional status of patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer of the lungs, colon or breast at an outpatient clinic. Design: Full nutritional assessment was conducted to define malnutrition and validate the SSM. Additionally, weight change from earlier healthy weight was evaluated, and calculations for intake of energy-giving nutrients (three-day-weighed food records) and protein balance were performed. After the evaluation study, the SSM was tested in clinical routine and data collected about patients' need for nutritional counseling. Subjects: Patients at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Oncology at Landspitali-University Hospital (n 030 with lung-, colon-or breast cancer in the study population, n 093 with all cancer type in clinical routine screening). Results: Malnutrition was defined by full nutritional assessment in 20% of the participating patients and SSM had high sensitivity and specificity. Declining nutritional status of the patients was seen as a negative nitrogen balance and unintentional weight loss from healthy weight, but not as total energy intake, recent weight loss or underweight. The test of SSM in clinical routine showed that 40% were malnourished. According to the patients, 80% needed nutritional counseling but only 17% had such counseling. Conclusion: Screening (SSM) for malnutrition in cancer patients is a valid simple approach to define cancer patients for nutritional care. More patients regard themselves in need for nutritional counseling than the number of patients really achieving any.

The effectiveness of inhaled ginger essential oil in improving dietary intake in breast‐cancer patients experiencing chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting

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Sintomas que afetam a ingestão alimentar de pacientes com linfoma em quimioterapia ambulatorial

“…9,12,18 Dos três métodos de avaliação nutricional utilizados em nosso estudo, apenas a AMB detectou mais de 50% de desnutrição, mostrando ser um método mais sensível nessa população. Nas demais avaliações esse diagnóstico esteve ausente ou reduzido.…”

“…8 A perda de peso associada à doença, leva a depleção das reservas corporais, agravando o quadro de gravidade da mesma 5 , demonstrando resposta reduzida ao tratamento, 9 sendo que a preservação ou melhora do estado nutricional tem um importante efeito na qualidade de vida desses pacientes. 10 Devido ao impacto causado pelos sintomas gastrointestinais na ingestão alimentar, são necessárias intervenções nutricionais 11 para influenciar no manejo dos sintomas gastrointestinais apresentados pelo paciente, melhorando o estado nutricional 12 .…”

Effect of Chemotherapy on Nutritional Status of Pediatric Subjects with Hematological Malignancies - A Retrospective Longitudinal Study

“…[9,10] A study done by Thorsdottir and Geirsdottir to examine the nutritional status of chemotherapy subjects estimated that 20% of patients end up malnourished. [11] Another study reported that chemotherapy can lead to protein energy malnutrition and impaired nitrogen balance among children with solid tumors. As indicated by low serum albumin levels.…”