[Hyponutrition prevalence among patients with digestive neoplasm before surgery]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nutritional Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Digestive neoplasms pose significant challenges in surgical patients.
• Nutritional status is a critical factor influencing surgical outcomes.
• Prevalence of hyponutrition in this specific patient group requires detailed analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and severity of hyponutrition.
• To analyze factors associated with hyponutrition in patients with resectable digestive neoplasms.
• To assess the correlation between different nutritional assessment methods.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted.
• Nutritional status was assessed in 80 adult patients with resectable digestive neoplasms scheduled for surgery.
• Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was utilized alongside weight loss and serum albumin levels.

Main Results:

• 50% of patients exhibited hyponutrition, with 21% classified as severe.
• Significant weight loss (≥5% in 3 months) was observed in 53% of patients.
• Lower serum albumin levels (<3.5 mg/dL) were found in 49% of cases, correlating with PG-SGA findings.

Conclusions:

• Hyponutrition is a common issue in patients with resectable digestive neoplasms.
• PG-SGA effectively identifies hyponutrition, aligning with weight loss and albumin levels.
• Further research into oncologic patient malnutrition is recommended.