Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Cancer patients show protein energy malnutrition (PEM) throughout the evolution of the disease. The main objective of this work is to find out the prevalence of PEM in the studied sample, as well as how to assess the nutritional state of patients.


METHODS
Non-interventionist, longitudinal and prospective study. Cancer patients from 103 researchers (6 specialties) from 65 hospitals of 15 Spanish Autonomous Communities. Results 561 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 62.6 years and 68.8% were men. The average basal body mass index (BMI) was 22.1 kg/m2. In 18.2% the BMI was low; 21.6% were overweight, pre-obese or obese; 22.9% had a localised tumour and 77.1% had an advanced one, first and foremost located in the head and neck, digestive system and lungs. In 72.7% of cases, it was treated with chemotherapy (CT) and in 38.3% with CT and radiotherapy (RT). 96.4% had nutrition problems: 70.9% (398/561) had anorexia, 34.8% (195/561) gastrointestinal pro blems, 32.6% (183/561) dysgeusia, 40.5% (227/561) dysphagia and others 8.6% (48/561). Weight loss occurred in 90.7% (an average of 4.2 months).


CONCLUSIONS
If we analyse the BMI of patients, it can be seen that 60.2% have an adequate weight according to their size against 17.3% of patients who are overweight or preobese, and the remaining 4.3% are obese. Only 18.2% of patients are underweight. Over 90% have suffered recent weight loss.
Sanz Ortiz
Jaime
J
University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla", Santander, Cantabria, Spain. oncsoj@humv.es
Moreno Nogueira
José Andrés
JA
García de Lorenzo y Mateos
Abelardo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D050177:Overweight; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015431:Weight Loss
Cancer. 1986 Oct 15;58(8 Suppl):1887-96
3756810
Semin Oncol. 1985 Dec;12(4):452-60
3936180
BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3
10797032
QJM. 2000 Feb;93(2):93-8
10700479
Eur J Cancer Prev. 2002 Aug;11 Suppl 2:S94-100
12570341
Am J Med. 1980 Oct;69(4):491-7
7424938
Mol Imaging. 2007 May-Jun;6(3):205-11
17532886
World J Urol. 2007 Oct;25(5):491-7
17534626
Gastroenterology. 2007 May;132(6):2208-25
17498513
JAMA. 2002 Oct 9;288(14):1728-32
12365956
Clin Nutr. 2005 Oct;24(5):801-14
15993517