Identifying malnutrition: Nutritional status in newly diagnosed patients With cancer

Krishnasamy K 1 , Tang LY 2 , Chong MC 3 , Lau PC 4 , Chinna K 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Karthikayini Krishnasamy, MNSc, nurse manager, Department of Nursing Science; University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: [email protected],
  • 2 Tang Li Yoong, PhD, lecturer, Department of Nursing Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Chong Mei Chan, PhD, senior lecturer, Department of Nursing Science; University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Lau Peng Choong, MD, MS, a consultant and general surgeon, Department of Surgery; University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Karuthan Chinna, PhD, associate professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Clin J Oncol Nurs, 2017 02 01;21(1):E23-E29.
PMID: 28107326 DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.E23-E29

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is common among patients with cancer, but little attention is given to its risks and consequences.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status and identify the factors associated with malnutrition among newly diagnosed patients with cancer.
METHODS: Patients admitted with newly diagnosed cancer at a teaching hospital in Malaysia were recruited from January to April 2015. Nutritional status was assessed before treatment initiation, and patients were classified into three categories.
FINDINGS: A total of 132 pretreatment patients were recruited into the study. About half were severely malnourished. Patients with stage III cancer had the highest prevalence of severe malnourishment. Clinical parameters and disease characteristics were significantly associated with nutritional status. Demographic variables were also statistically significantly associated with severe nutritional status.
KEYWORDS: malnutrition; nutrition status; nutritional assessment; risk factor

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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