Improving nutritional status assessment in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disorder causing irreversible destruction of pancreatic tissue, leading to malnutrition. A previous study has found that currently used screening methods (periodic recording of body weight and faecal and serological markers) fall short in identifying and curbing malnutrition. Moreover, data is lacking regarding change in nutritional status over time. The aim of our study is to investigate changes in nutritional status in CP patients over time and to determine whether a more extensive set of measurements would be beneficial for nutritional screening of these patients.

CP patients who had undergone a nutritional assessment in 2012 were recruited to undergo a second assessment. The assessment consisted of anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), handgrip strength (HGS), the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), determination of faecal and serological markers and the Short Form Health (SF-36) questionnaire. These two assessments were compared and correlations between the various measures were calculated.

Twenty-eight patients underwent a second assessment. An increase in fat mass and a decrease in both fat free mass (FFM) and HGS were observed. The number of patients scoring under the 10th percentile for FFM (43%-54%) and HGS in their dominant side (38%-46%) increased. FFM and HGS were positively correlated (R = 0.57).

Even though current guidelines for CP follow-up were adhered to, there was a general deterioration in nutritional status. HGS correlated with FFM. HGS might be useful as a screening instrument for malnutrition in CP patients.