Radiat Oncol J.  2012 Sep;30(3):132-139.

Nutritional status of patients treated with radiotherapy as determined by subjective global assessment

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kckeum@yuhs.ac
  • 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
  • 5Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 6Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Department of Radiation Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
  • 8Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this prospective multi-institutional study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for treatment of head and neck, lung, or gastrointestinal cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 1,000 patients were enrolled in this study at seven different hospitals in Seoul, Korea between October 2009 and May 2010. The nutritional status of patients after receiving 3 weeks of RT was evaluated using subjective global assessment (SGA). The nutritional status of each patient was rated as well nourished (A), moderately malnourished (B), or severely malnourished (C).
RESULTS
The mean age of patients in this study was 59.4 +/- 11.9 years, and the male to female ratio was 7:3. According to the SGA results, 60.8%, 34.5%, and 4.7% of patients were classified as A, B, or C, respectively. The following criteria were significantly associated with malnutrition (SGA B or C; p < 0.001): loss of subcutaneous fat or muscle wasting (odds ratio [OR], 11.473); increased metabolic demand/stress (OR, 8.688); ankle, sacral edema, or ascites (OR, 3.234); and weight loss > or =5% (OR, 2.299).
CONCLUSION
SGA was applied successfully to assess the nutritional status of most patients. The prevalence of malnutrition in a radiation oncology department was 39.2%. The results of this study serve as a basis for implementation of nutrition intervention to patients being treated at radiation oncology departments.

Keyword

Malnutrition; Nutrition assessment; Subjective global assessment; Radiotherapy

MeSH Terms

Animals
Ankle
Ascites
Edema
Female
Head
Humans
Korea
Lung
Male
Malnutrition
Muscles
Neck
Nutrition Assessment
Nutritional Status
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Radiation Oncology
Subcutaneous Fat
Weight Loss
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