Malnutrition, Psychological Conditions, and Their Effects on Older Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

Nutritional status and psychological health are common issues in older patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. This study aims to investigate the current status of malnutrition and its influencing factors in elderly patients with gastrointestinal tumors, the prevalence of anxiety and depression, and to analyze the interrelationship between the two, as well as their impacts on activity status, quality of life, and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, it explores whether necessary and reasonable nutritional and psychological interventions should be implemented in clinical practice to ensure maximum benefit for the patients. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 268 older patients with GI carcinoma. The estimated prevalence of malnutrition in older GI cancer patients was 70.1%. Body mass index (p < 0.001), Karnofsky Performance Status (p < 0.001), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) (p = 0.03) were significant indicators of nutritional status. In total, 81.7% of the patients required nutritional support, but merely 46.3% of those received support in practice. Incidences of anxiety, depression, and their co-occurrence were 46.3%, 52.2%, and 38.8%, respectively. Nutritional status deterioration, anxiety, or depression were associated with poor quality of life and a series of adverse clinical outcomes. Malnutrition, anxiety, and depression were prevalent in older GI cancer patients and were associated with poor quality of life and a series of adverse clinical outcomes.