Malnutrition and quality of life in patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed whether malnourished patients score lower on quality of life after treatment for oral/oropharyngeal cancer.


METHODS
Malnutrition (weight loss ≥ 10% in 6 months/ ≥ 5% in 1 month) and quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 questionnaire) were assessed cross-sectionally in patients treated for oral/oropharyngeal cancer. The interval after treatment varied from 1 day to 3 years. The relationship between malnutrition and quality of life was analyzed univariately (Mann-Whitney U test) and multivariately (linear regression analyses). Statistical significance was set at p < .05.


RESULTS
Prevalence of posttreatment malnutrition was 16% (18/115, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9% to 23%). Analyzed univariately, malnourished patients scored significantly worse on physical functioning (p = .007) and fatigue (p = .034) than well-nourished patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that malnutrition was significantly related to physical functioning (p = .015).


CONCLUSIONS
Malnourished patients treated for oral/oropharyngeal cancer score lower on quality of life scales related to physical fitness.
Jager-Wittenaar
Harriët
H
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. h.jager@onco.umcg.nl
Dijkstra
Pieter U
PU
Vissink
Arjan
A
van der Laan
Bernard F A M
BF
van Oort
Rob P
RP
Roodenburg
Jan L N
JL
D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss