Abstract
BackgroundThe aims of this study were to report nutritional status in a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and to study the influence of nutritional status on their quality of life (QoL).MethodsThis work was a longitudinal cohort study performed at a French university teaching hospital. Eligible patients were individuals with a cancer needing treatment based on exclusive chemotherapy. Three work-ups were performed: i) before the administration of the first course of chemotherapy: T1, ii) before the administration of the second (for patients with 3 planned courses) or third (patients with 6 planned courses) course: T2, and iii) before the administration of the last planned course: T3. The following data were collected: general health (performance status) and nutritional status (weight, anorexia grading, albuminemia, pre-albuminemia, and C-reactive protein) and QoL.ResultsThe nutritional status of patients with cancer was preserved. Functional impairment, the presence of anorexia, the palliative nature of the chemotherapy, and an elevated C-reactive protein dosage were independent predictive factors of a lower QoL among patients assessed at the end of chemotherapy.ConclusionsAlthough larger studies should corroborate these findings, clinicians may include this information in the management of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy to identify the most vulnerable patients.Trial registrationCurrent controlled trials NCT01687335 (registration date: October 6, 2011).
Highlights
The aims of this study were to report nutritional status in a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and to study the influence of nutritional status on their quality of life (QoL)
Malnutrition is a very common problem among oncology patients [1, 2], and cancer malnutrition, defined as an unbalanced nutritional intake/needs ratio leading to functional consequences, is multifactorial and related both to the disease and the anti-tumor treatments: i) reduced intake [3] due to multiple functional disorders
Few robust and reliable studies concerning the nutritional status of patients with cancer who require chemotherapy are available, and the degree to which the international recommendations are applied has not yet been reported
Summary
The aims of this study were to report nutritional status in a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and to study the influence of nutritional status on their quality of life (QoL). Because malnutrition is considered increasingly important in the setting of cancer, several (French and international) groups have published recommendations and guidelines for including nutritional management in the global management of this disease [9,10,11], for patients requiring chemotherapy [12]. We first report the nutritional status of a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and report the influence of nutritional status on the patients’ QoL
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
