Prevalence of malnutrition and the appropriateness of nutritional support among patients with hematologic...

Malnutrition is common among patients with hematologic malignancies, but there are few clinical studies on disease-specific nutritional characteristics and the appropriateness of nutritional support.

This cross-sectional study included 633 hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies. Nutritional risk was assessed using the NRS-2002, malnutrition was diagnosed according to GLIM criteria, and the appropriateness of nutritional support was evaluated.

54.0% of patients were at nutritional risk, and 39.0% were diagnosed with malnutrition. Significant heterogeneity was observed across different disease subtypes, with multiple myeloma having the highest prevalence of nutritional risk (66.3%) and leukemia having the highest prevalence of malnutrition (44.9%). Female gender, diabetes, hypertension, elevated C-reactive protein, infection, and low serum albumin levels were independent risk factors associated with malnutrition. Only 15.6% of patients received nutritional support; fewer than one-third of malnourished patients received nutritional intervention, while 7.0% of well-nourished patients received nutritional support without clear indications.

There is significant heterogeneity in the nutritional status of hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies, and a marked mismatch exists between nutritional needs and nutritional support. Disease-specific nutritional management based on the GLIM assessment may improve the appropriateness of nutritional support and optimize clinical outcomes.