Asian Oncol Nurs.  2023 Sep;23(3):91-101. 10.5388/aon.2023.23.3.91.

Factors Affecting Nutritional Index and Length of Stay in Pancreatic Cancer in the Older Adults

• Jun SY
• Choi MN
• Park JS
• Lee HK

• KMID: 2546862
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2023.23.3.91

Abstract

Purpose
This retrospective study aimed to clarify the relation between nutritional index and length of hospital stay in elderly patients undergoing pancreatic cancer surgery, and to identify factors affecting the length of hospital stay.
Methods
Total 102 patients aged over 65 years who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were retrospectively enrolled from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2020. All patients were subjected to nutritional screening using Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI).
Results
The GNRI average was 95. 66±6.95, with 67.6% of patients having a low GNRI score (malnutrition group). The average regarding PNI was 45.46±5.65, with 54.9% of patients having a low PNI (malnutrition group). The average total length of hospital stay was 23.12±10.69 days. Total length of hospital stay according to the nutritional indexes of the subjects was longer in the low GNRI (t=-2.09, p=.039) and low PNI (t=-2.29, p=.024) groups.
Conclusion
Poorer preoperative nutritional status increased total length of hospital stay in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer. Assessment of nutritional status of patients using GNRI and PNI is a good strategy for evaluating elderly patients at high risk of having to stay in hospital for more extended periods of time.

Keyword

Aged; Pancreatic cancer; Nutrition assessment; Length of hospital stay