Nutritional Status and Functional assessment of Anorexia, Cachexia including Quality of life (QoL) in patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies undergoing Chemotherapy

• Published in: Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 201 - 207
• Main Authors: Princy, Abijah B, Lucas, Amalorpavamari, Deepa, Merlin Nancy V, Vanitha, S, Angel, Shiny S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Raipur A&V Publications 04.05.2022
• Subjects: Anorexia; Asymptomatic; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Classification; Correlation; Data Analysis; Data collection; Descriptive research; Dietetics; Dietitians; Family income; Functional Behavioral Assessment; Hemoglobin; Illiteracy; Intervention; Likert Scales; Malnutrition; Marital Status; Medical Evaluation; Nutrition; Nutritional status; Outcomes of Treatment; Patients; Physical Examinations; Population; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Radiology; Research Design; Research Methodology; Sampling; Sampling techniques; Screening Tests; Statistical Analysis; Statistical Significance; Symptom management; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Validity; Working groups
• ISSN: 2231-1149; 2349-2996
• DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00040

Malnutrition is an overlooked domain of concern among patients with GI malignancies especially, while undergoing chemotherapy. Poor nutrition deleteriously impacts treatment outcomes, performance status and eventually the QoL. A quantitative descriptive research approach was used to assess the nutritional status and the functional assessment of anorexia/cachexia including QoL among patients with GI malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 111 adult patients were enrolled using consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using PGSGA and FAACT questionnaires. The findings revealed that based on PGSGA, 50.5% were moderately and 23.4% were severely malnourished. 73.90% had a PGSGA point score of > 9. Based on SCRINIO classification, 20.7% were symptomatically cachexic and 58.6% were symptomatic precachexic. Hemoglobin was < 11.9g/dL in 63% of patients. 45% had a performance status (ECOG) score of 1. The overall mean FAACT score was moderate (108.68+22.82). Statistically significant, strong negative correlation existed between nutritional status and FAACT (r=-0.710, p-0.000). Statistically significant difference was found in the mean nutritional status based on ECOG score (p-0.000), SCRINIO classification (p-0.000), hemoglobin level (p0.001), BMI (p-0.020), family income (p-0.035) and the duration of last chemotherapy received (p-0.035). Also, statistically significant difference was seen in the mean FAACT score based on ECOG score (p-0.000), SCRINIO classification (p-0.000), family income (p-0.001), hemoglobin level (p-0.004) and BMI status (p0.030). The study reveals that majority of GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are moderately to severely malnourished and have a moderate functional status and QoL. The study emphasizes the critical need for ongoing preemptive nutritional assessment/interventions, improved symptom management and individualized dietary counseling to cancer patients.