Correlation between nutritional status and symptoms in postoperative gastric cancer patients

Abstract

Objective To understand the postoperative nutritional status and symptoms of gastric cancer patients, and to analyze the correlation between nutritional status and symptoms. Methods A total of 110 postoperative gastric cancer patients in Peking University Cancer Hospital were enrolled from April to December 2014 and selected using convenience sampling. We assessed the patient′s nutritional status by human body measurement, lab test and subjective global assessment (SGA). Memorial symptom assessment scale (MSAS) was used to evaluate these patients′ symptoms after operation. Results Based on different nutrition indicators, rate of malnutrition in patients after surgery was from 6.3% to 52.7%. About 77 patients (70.0%)suffered from multiple symptoms, 51 (46.4%) patients with physical symptoms, 34 (30.9%) with psychological symptoms. The top 10 symptoms included difficulty in falling asleep, numb, abdominal distension, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, poor appetite, thirst, anenergia, and hair loss. According to the SGA result, patients in worse nutritional status had higher symptom scores than those with normal nutrition (P<0.01), such as PHYS (physical symptom subscale score), PSYCH (psychological symptom subscale score), GDI (global distress index), and TMSAS (total MSAS score). Conclusions Our results show that postoperative malnutrition is common and the majority of patients may experience symptoms. Nutritional status is positively correlated with symptoms during recovery. Thus, when assessing nutritional status and performing nutrition intervention, we should consider patients′ symptoms, and manage their symptoms appropriately as well. Key words: Malnutrition; Radical operation for stomach carcinoma; Rehabilitation; Symptoms