Prevalence of malnutrition / malnutrition risk in cancer patients: experince of an oncology outpatient clinic in Turkey

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence ofmalnutrition risk (MR)/malnutrition (MN) in cancer patients using MNA. Methods: Thisobservational study was conducted with cancer patients in the Izmir KatipCelebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital Medical OncologyOutpatient Clinic. Demographic data, daily functional status according to theEastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), nutritional status according to MiniNutrition Assessments (MNA) and anthropometric measurements obtained withTANITA Body Composition Analyzer Model TBF-300 (TANITA) were used in theevaluation of patients. Results: The studyenrolled 296 oncology patients. The mean age was 58.34 ± 11.60 years. Twohundred and eight (70.3%) of the patients were women. The most common threetumor types were breast tumors (43.2%; n=128); gastrointestinal tract tumors(33.1%; n=98), genitourinary tract tumors (10.8%: n=32). The mean BMI of thepatients was 27.45 ± 5.75 m2/kg. According to MNA 118 of the patients were innormal nutritional status (39.9%). 130 of them were at the risk of malnutrition(43.9%), 48 of them were malnourished (16.2%).Conclusion: In cancerpatients, the prevalence of malnutrition and malnutrition risk is significantlyhigh, and this may alter the patient’s life quality and expectancy. Therefore,the nutritional status of every patient that is diagnosed with cancer should beassessed in early stages of the disease.

Keywords

• malnutrition
• cancer
• mini nutrition assessments
• malnutrisyon
• kanser
• mini nutrisyonel değerlendirme