Prevalence of malnutrition and current use of nutrition support in patients with cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

The aim of this study was to evaluate on 1 day the prevalence of malnutrition in different types of cancer and the use of nutrition support in patients with cancer.

METHODS:

A 1-day prevalence survey was carried out in 154 French hospital wards. Malnutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 in patients <75 years old or <21 in patients ≥75 years old and/or body weight loss >10% since disease onset. Oral food intake was measured using a visual analog scale.

RESULTS:

Nutrition status was collected for 1903 patients (1109 men and 794 women, 59.3 ± 13.2 years). Cancer was local in 25%, regional in 31%, and metastatic in 44% of patients. Performance status was 0 or 1 in 49.8%, 2 in 23.7%, 3 or 4 in 19.6% and not available in 6.5% of patients. Overall, 39% of patients were malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition by disease site was as follows: head and neck, 48.9%; leukemia/lymphoma, 34.0%; lung, 45.3%; colon/rectum, 39.3%; esophagus and/or stomach, 60.2%; pancreas, 66.7%; breast, 20.5%; ovaries/uterus, 44.8%; and prostate, 13.9%. Regional cancer (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-2.70), metastatic cancer (2.97; 2.14-4.12), previous chemotherapy (1.41; 1.05-1.89), and previous radiotherapy (1.53; 1.21-1.92) were associated with malnutrition. Only 28.4% of non-malnourished patients and 57.6% of malnourished patients received nutrition support. In all, 55% of patients stated that they were eating less than before the cancer, while 41.4% of patients stated that they had received nutrition counseling.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients with cancer, and systematic screening for and treatment of malnutrition is necessary.

• Authors: Xavier Hébuterne, Etienne Lemarié, Mauricette Michallet, Claude Beauvillain de Montreuil, Stéphane Michel Schneider, François Goldwasser
• Journal: JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition (JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr) Vol. 38 Issue 2 Pg. 196-204 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1941-2444 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24748626 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aged
• Body Mass Index
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Malnutrition (epidemiology, etiology)
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Neoplasms (complications, therapy)
• Nutritional Status
• Nutritional Support (adverse effects, methods)
• Prevalence
• Prospective Studies
• Weight Loss