Prevalence of Malnutrition in New Cancer Patients at Radiation Oncology Unit, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Abstract

Prevalence of Malnutrition in New Cancer Patients at Radiation Oncology Unit, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Kanyarat Katanyoo MD

Marisa Jongthanakorn MD

Thanatip Tantivattana MD

Department of Radiology, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition and its associating factors in new cancer patients at Radiation Oncology unit, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital.

Study design: Descriptive study.

Subjects: One hundred and six new cancer patients at Radiation Oncology unit, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital during May and July 2008 were enrolled.

Methods: Data including sex, types and stages of cancer, previous treatment, febrile status, serum albumin level, percentage of blood lymphocyte and other symptoms which may be associated with malnutrition were recorded. The nutritional status was evaluated using the nutritional screening questionnaire which consisted of data on body mass index, performance status, quantity of food intake and presence of co-morbidity or other treatments.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence of malnutrition in new cancer patients.

Results: Out of 106 new cancer patients, 21.7% had malnutrition. The five most common cancers associated with malnutrition were cancers of hepatobiliary system, esophagus, male genitourinary tract, pancreas and head and neck. Factors which significantly associated with the nutritional status were sex, types and stages of cancer. Male and female cancer patients had malnutrition in 35.4% and 10.3% respectively. Malnutrition in early, locally advanced and metastatic stage were 0%, 15.9% and 50.0% respectively. Other factors associated with malnutrition were low serum albumin level and low percentage of blood lymphocyte, in which malnutrition were found in 40.4% and 42.9% respectively. Symptoms of mucositis, taste and food aversion, anorexia, fatigue, pain and dyspnea were also associated with malnutrition in new cancer patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition in new cancer patients was 21.7%. Sex, types, stages of cancer, serum albumin level, percentage of blood lymphocyte, mucositis, taste and food aversion, anorexia, fatigue, pain and dyspnea were associated with malnutrition.

Vajira Med J 2009 ; 53 : 59 - 67