Unintentional weight loss is the most important indicator of malnutrition among surgical cancer patients

Loh, K.W. and Vriens, M.R. and Gerritsen, A. and Rinkes, I.H.M.B. and van Hillegersberg, R. and Schippers, C. and Steenhagen, E. and Ong, T.A. and Moy, Foong Ming and Molenaar, I.Q. (2012) Unintentional weight loss is the most important indicator of malnutrition among surgical cancer patients. The Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 70 (8). p. 365. ISSN 1872-9061,

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Abstract

Background: Disease-related malnutrition is highly prevalent in hospital patients and varies from 25-40. Early nutritional screening of patients at admission helps to improve recognition of malnourished patients to allow early interventions and enhance clinical outcomes. Method: A total of 104 reoperative surgical patients with oesophageal (34), stomach (17) or pancreatic cancer (53) were recruited in our study. The risk of malnutrition was examined using the quick-and-easy Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Anthropometric data and information on percent weight change over the past six months, unintentional weight loss, dietician referrals, and history of nutritional intervention were collected. Results: A total of 75 of our participants were at high malnutrition risk with a mean (±SD) percentage weight loss of 5.18 (±6.23), despite a mean BMI of 26.09 (±5.73) kgm-2. Participants with a significantly higher percent weight loss, unintentional weight loss, dietician referral and nutritional intervention had a higher risk of malnutrition (p<0.05). Presence of unintentional weight loss was the only significant predictor (OR 3.22; 95 CI 1.23, 8.40) associated with risk of malnutrition after adjusted for all confounders. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings highlight the importance of routine screening of malnutrition in oncology patients. Medical personnel must be aware that unintentional weight loss is an important predictor of malnutrition risks even if the patient�s BMI is not suggestive of malnutrition.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Malnutrition, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), weight loss, cancer
Subjects:	R Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms Haslinda Lahuddin
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2012 01:42
Last Modified:	15 Jan 2021 08:16
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/4505

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