Malnutrition and overall survival in older patients with cancer. Issue 3 (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiaotao; Pang, Linda; Sharma, Shreela V.; Li, Ruosha; Nyitray, Alan G.; Edwards, Beatrice J.
• Is Part Of: Clinical nutrition. Volume 40:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 966
• Page End: 977
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Malnutrition -- Geriatric -- Mortality -- Weight loss -- Cancer care -- Cancer survivorship; Critically ill -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Diet therapy -- Periodicals; Parenteral feeding -- Periodicals; Enteral feeding -- Periodicals; Enteral Nutrition -- Periodicals; Parenteral Nutrition -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Periodicals; Diétothérapie -- Périodiques; Alimentation parentérale -- Périodiques; Alimentation entérale -- Périodiques; Nutrition -- Périodiques; Diet therapy; Enteral feeding; Nutrition; Parenteral feeding; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.854
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.06.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5614

Abstract

Summary: Background & aims: In this study, we assessed the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with overall survival among patients with cancer aged 65 years and older. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients receiving cancer care underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Malnutrition status was determined through the CGA. We used univariate and multivariable Cox regression survival analyses to assess the association between baseline malnutrition and survival. Results: A total of 454 patients with cancers were included in the analysis. The median age was 78 years and men and women were equally represented. Forty-two percent (n = 190) were malnourished at baseline, and 33% died during the follow-up (range 0.2–51.1 month). Univariate analysis showed that malnutrition increased the risk of all-cause mortality in older patients with cancer (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.08–2.05; p = 0.01). In the multivariate Cox regression model, malnutrition increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.10–3.17; p = 0.02) in older patients with solid tumors. However, malnutrition did not increase the risk of all-cause mortality for hematologic malignancies. Conclusions: In our study, we found that malnutrition was a risk factor for mortality in older cancer patients, especially in older patients with solid tumors. Prospective inter ventional studies are recommended.