Sarcoma Does Not Predict Malnutrition in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives The association between inflammation, malnutrition, and cancer is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between inflammatory-type cancer and diagnosed malnutrition, albumin level, and age in patients with cancer. Methods Malnutrition and cancer diagnoses were obtained using data from hospital medical records in patients admitted for cancer between Oct. 2017 and Dec. 2018. Demographics, as well as the first and lowest albumin levels were also obtained. A simple t-test is processed between age and malnutrition status. Also a chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relation between malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia status. Logistic regression was conducted between malnutrition status, sarcoma cancer, age, and hypoalbuminemia. Results The study included 4034 patients (2084 males, 1949 females). Approximately 4% of the patients were diagnosed with malnutrition. Logistic regression on malnutrition status, sarcoma, age, and hypoalbuminemia showed a significant association on global test (3, 2433, P-value = 0.013). Hypoalbuminemia (< 3.9 g/dL lower-limit) was significantly associated with malnutrition (X2 1, 2433 P-value = 0.0156). Sarcoma diagnosis was not significantly associated with malnutrition (X2 1, 2433 P-value = 0.267). Age is not significantly related to malnutrition status (X2 1, 2433 p-value = 0.449). A t-test was also performed malnutrition vs no malnutrition on age, resulting in a marginally significant association for malnutrition group (M = 65.33, SD = 15.50) vs no malnutrition group (M = 67.32, SD = 17.55) (t(1) = 3.7212, P = 0.0537). Conclusions Sarcoma is not significantly associated with an increased risk of malnutrition. Cancer patients with hypoalbuminemia have a higher risk for malnutrition compared to the patients with normal albumin level. Additionally, age may be a predictor for cancer patients’ risk of in-hospital malnutrition. Funding Sources None.