Abstract
Background: In Brazil, it is estimated 10,000 new cases of cancer per year. Despite the assumed high prevalence of weight loss and malnutrition in these patients, this study was designed to evaluate the percentage of weight loss and nutritional status. Methods: We evaluated the nutritional status of 1,154 patients (0 to 19 years old) with malignant neoplasms who were seen at the outpatient clinics or were admitted to the inpatient and/or intensive care units. The anthropometric parameters used were: weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference and arm muscle circumference, body mass index and percentage of weight loss. Results: At diagnosis, 67.63% of patients presented adequate BMI. The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 10.85%, 27.32%, 24.55% and 13.66%, based on BMI, TSFT, MUAC and AMC, respectively. Average weight loss was moderate to severe in all tumor groups, except for retinoblastoma and Wilms Tumor. The difference between usual reported weight and current weight was statistically significant in patients diagnosed with carcinomas, lymphomas and bone tumors. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition in children with cancer, at admission, ranges between 10.85% and 27.32% for TFST and BMI.
Highlights
It is estimated that 10,000 new cases of pediatric cancer are diagnosed in Brazil each year [1]
In this cross-sectional observational study, we evaluated the nutritional status of 1154 children and adolescents with malignant neoplasms who attended to the outpatient clinics or were admitted to the inpatient and/or intensive care units in our pediatric oncology center, from March 2005 to March 2012
With pre-existing chronic diseases unrelated to cancer or antineoplastic treatment which could impact on nutritional status, under steroid or hormone therapy, and those whose weight was not possible to measure precisely due to physical limitations were not included
Summary
It is estimated that 10,000 new cases of pediatric cancer are diagnosed in Brazil each year [1]. Children may experience systemic and local infections, immune, metabolic and nutritional disorders, among other morbidities, due to the presence of the tumor itself [3,4]. This scenario puts children and adolescents with malignant neoplasms at high-risk of acquiring numerous physical, psychological and social grievances. Ten thousand new cases of cancer per year are estimated in Brazil. (There is assumed high prevalence of weight loss and malnutrition in these patients). This study was designed to evaluate the percentage of weight loss and nutritional status
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