[Assessment of a malnutrition screening tool in cancer patients]

40-80% of cancer patients suffer from diverse degrees of malnutrition, depending on tumor subtype, location and staging and treatment strategy. Malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Both the high prevalence and prognostic significance of malnutrition imply the need for accurate malnutrition screening in cancer patients, which could select those patients at risk of nutritional derangements who would benefit from nutritional therapy. Patient-generated subjective global screening (VSG-GP) remains the reference malnutrition screening method, but its complexity and training requirements prevent wider applicability by oncologists. Thus, easier, more clinic-based malnutrition screening tools are required for cancer patients. In this article we propose a basic screening tool based on three items: weight loss, changes in physical activity and decrease in food intake. Two affirmative responses out of the three questions is considered as a positive response, and would prompt expert nutritional assessment.

Our screening interview showed positive correlation with VSG-GP (ROC 0.85, p<0.001) and allowed for a rapid and accurate identification of patients with cancer-related malnutrition.