FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND NUTRITIONAL PROFILE OF CANCER PATIENTS IN DRUG THERAPY

Abstract

Introduction: Feeding is extremely important in cancer therapy, since morbidity and mortality depend on the nutritional profile of the patients. Objective: To verify the feeding behavior and nutritional profile of adult patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methodology: Cross-sectional, quantitative study developed at a Center of High Complexity in Oncology in the city of Ijuí-RS, Brazil. Adult cancer patients of both sexes were evaluated from August to September 2015. The analyzed variables were: socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, feeding behavior, dietary intake and anthropometric assessment. Results: One hundred patients participated, most of them women (56%). The main primary diagnosis was breast cancer (51.79%) among women and lung cancer (15.91%) among men. There was predominance of food aversions to meat, fatty foods, sweets and solid foods. The characterization of diet due to the treatment was statistically significant (p = 0.035). Individuals of both sexes had average energy consumption lower than 1,300 Kcal/day. Overweight was prevalent among women (44.64%) and normal weight was prevalent among men (45.45%). Conclusions: Chemotherapeutic treatment altered the feeding behavior of the patients; and the low energy and protein intake associated with weight loss suggests possible nutritional risk. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2018.30309

Keywords

• câncer. comportamento alimentar. estado nutricional. quimioterapia.