Nutritional Status of Patients with Neoplasms Undergoing Ambulatory Chemotherapy and Associated Factors

Cancer, a leading cause of mortality globally and in Brazil, is influenced by environmental and behavioral factors, often linked to nutritional deficiencies such as low body mass index and muscle wasting, exacerbating prognostic outcomes and mortality rates. Timely nutritional interventions during chemotherapy are pivotal, necessitating continuous nutritional assessment for effective patient care management. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of non-metastatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and identify factors influencing their nutritional status. Patient evaluation involved sociodemographic data, clinical profiles, anthropometric measurements, blood biochemical analyses, and nutritional status classification employing the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.

Suspected malnutrition was identified in 5.81% of patients, with a significant association observed with gender, indicating a higher prevalence among men. Cancer stages II and III, along with a positive family history, correlated with heightened risk of malnutrition. Patients with suspected malnutrition exhibited older age, lower weight, body mass index (BMI), and reduced circumferences, underscoring the necessity of comprehensive nutritional assessment for optimized patient management during treatment.

This study underscores a notable prevalence of malnutrition, particularly among patients with lower weight and BMI, affirming the reliability of PG-SGA criteria.