Abstract

DUFAU, Lucrecia. Hyponutrition prevalence among cancer patients. Diaeta [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.130, pp.31-36. ISSN 1852-7337.

Hyponutrition prevalence among cancer patients is a common problem; malnutrition incidence is estimated in 15 to 40% at cancer diagnosis, and reaches 80% in cases of advanced cancer. The consequences of hyponutrition involve a greater number of postoperative complications, longer hospital stay, higher costs, and an increased mortality. Hyponutrition prevalence among cancer patients was studied at the Diabetes and Nutrition Department of Marie Curie Oncology Hospital in patients who attended for preoperative Nutritional Assessment from June 2008 to December 2008. The detection method used was the Ulibarri and col. (in CONUT system). 132 patients were evaluated. 7.2% (n=9) of the assessed patients had lost more than 10% of their usual weight within the previous six months (CI95% 2.2-12.2%); 12.9% (n=16) had lost 5 to 10% (CI95% 6.6-19.2%) of their usual weight, and 79.8% (n=99) had lost 0 to 5% of their usual weight within the previous six months (CI 95% 72.3-87.3%). Serum albumin levels were higher than 3.5 g/dl in 97.7% of the assessed patients (CI 95% 94.8-100%); serum proteins were higher than 5 g/dl in 100% of the cases; serum cholesterol was lower than 180 mg/dl in 18.2% of the cases (CI95% 11.2-25.4%); and 63.6% of the sample (CI 95% 55.0-72.2%) had a total lymphocyte count below 1600/mm3. Hyponutrition prevalence among evaluated cancer patients was 47.7% (CI95% 38.8-56.6%). Hyponutrition appears as an important feature in the studied population and, considering its possible implications, measures should be taken to reverse this situation so that oncologic patients have an optimum nutritional status at the time of surgery.

Keywords : Hyponutrition; Cancer; Serum albumin; Lymphocyte count.

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