title: Nutritional and psychosocial status of colorectal cancer patients referred to an outpatient oncology clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malnutrition and psychological distress are associated with poorer outcomes following treatment for colorectal cancer. Screening for issues such as malnutrition, depression, and anxiety is being adopted in some oncology settings, but its effectiveness or the relationship between these risk factors in this population are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted of 836 health assessment forms provided to colorectal cancer patients referred to an outpatient oncology clinic. Nutritional (Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment) and psychological (Psychosocial Screen for Cancer) screening tools were included in the form. Demographic and screening tool information was obtained from completed forms. The prevalence of nutritional risk, depression, and anxiety were determined based on screening tool scores and clinical cutoffs. An ordinal regression model was fitted to determine which demographic and psychosocial factors best predicted nutritional risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 252 (30%) of the forms were completed enough for inclusion in analysis. The prevalence of nutritional risk, anxiety, and depression were determined to be 29%, 10%, and 7%, respectively. A regression model containing the variables depression, anxiety, gender, health coverage, and marital status was found to best explain the nutritional score. Depression was the most significant predictor, with odds of increased nutritional risk being 5.6 times greater for depressed individuals (P = 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of nutritional and psychosocial screening tools is warranted and needs to be emphasized more in oncology settings. There appears to be a relationship between psychosocial issues and increased nutritional risk which should be taken into account when considering cancer care interventions.
authors: Clinical Research, Vancouver Island Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada. hdaudt@bccancer.bc.ca
authors: Helena Maria Lizardo
authors: HM
authors: Daudt
authors: Cheri
authors: C
authors: Cosby
authors: Darcy L
authors: DL
authors: Dennis
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Payeur
authors: Rubayed
authors: R
authors: Nurullah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors