Nutrition Impact Symptoms During Chemotherapy in Patients with Gastric Cancer: Application of Latent Profile and...

This study aimed to identify distinct subgroups of nutrition impact symptoms among patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy, to explore factors associated with subgroup membership, and to determine core symptoms within the overall sample and each subgroup.

A cross-sectional design was used. A total of 379 patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy were recruited from oncology departments of six hospitals in China. Latent profile analysis was performed to identify symptom subgroups. Multivariable logistic regression was then applied to examine factors influencing each subgroup. Finally, symptom network analysis was conducted for each subgroup to identify core symptoms.

Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct symptom burden subgroups: low (39%), moderate (38%), and high (23%). Multivariable analysis showed that gastric cancer stage I was a protective factor for the moderate burden group. For the high burden group, lower monthly income was a risk factor, whereas lower education level, earlier tumor stage (II-III), fewer chemotherapy cycles, and a lower systemic immune-inflammation index were protective factors (all P < .05). Symptom network analysis identified nausea as the core symptom in the low group, pain in the moderate group, and fatigue in the high group.

Nutrition impact symptom in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy is heterogeneous and can be classified into three distinct subgroups, each characterized by different core symptoms. These findings underscore the need for targeted, subgroup-specific symptom management interventions.

Healthcare professionals should design interventions that target the core symptoms and their interrelationships within each identified subgroup, thereby facilitating precise symptom management and improving clinical symptom control.