Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Insufficient dietary intake and symptom burden are associated with early nutritional decline in hospitalized patients with cancer
By Soares CH, Maffini LF, Friedrich HJ and 2 others.
Abstract
Purpose
To assess energy and protein intake relative to nutritional prescriptions in hospitalized patients with cancer and examine associations with appetite, nutrition-related symptoms, cancer-related factors, and changes in body weight (BW), anthropometric, and muscle strength indicators.
Methods
This longitudinal study included patients with cancer following during the first six days of hospitalization. Appetite and dietary intake were assessed on days 2, 4, and 6 using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Food Intake Visual Scale (FIVS), respectively. Reduced appetite was defined as mean VAS ≤ 70 mm and reduced dietary intake as mean FIVS < 75%. BW, calf circumference (CC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and handgrip strength (HGS) were assessed. Differences between prescribed and estimated energy and protein intake, associations, and longitudinal changes were analyzed.