Use of the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutrition assessment tool in patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutrition assessment tool in patients with cancer.


METHODS
An observational study assessing the nutritional status of patients with cancer.


METHODS
Oncology ward of a private tertiary Australian hospital.


METHODS
Seventy-one cancer patients aged 18-92 y.


METHODS
Scored PG-SGA questionnaire, comparison of scored PG-SGA with subjective global assessment (SGA), sensitivity, specificity.


RESULTS
Some 24% (17) of 71 patients were well nourished, 59% (42) of patients were moderately or suspected of being malnourished and 17% (12) of patients were severely malnourished according to subjective global assessment (SGA). The PG-SGA score had a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 82% at predicting SGA classification. There was a significant difference in the median PG-SGA scores for each of the SGA classifications (P<0.001), with the severely malnourished patients having the highest scores. Re-admission within 30 days of discharge was significantly different between SGA groups (P=0.037). The mortality rate within 30 days of discharge was not significantly different between SGA groups (P=0.305). The median length of stay of well nourished patients (SGA A) was significantly lower than that of the malnourished (SGA B+C) patients (P=0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
The scored PG-SGA is an easy to use nutrition assessment tool that allows quick identification and prioritisation of malnutrition in hospitalised patients with cancer.
Bauer
J
J
The Wesley Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia, and Centre for Public Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Capra
S
S
Ferguson
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002100:Cachexia; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome