title: Development and validation of a nutrition screening tool for hospitalized cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although various nutrition screening tools are used, they are not specific for the screening of malnourished cancer patients. The objective of this study was to develop a nutrition screening tool that could be used to identify cancer patients at risk for malnutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 3010 cancer patients admitted to the National Cancer Center of Korea between April 1 and June 2, 2008, the nutritional status of 1057 patients was assessed by the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Variables used in current nutrition screening tools were analyzed to select indices for a developing malnutrition screening tool for cancer patients (MSTC). The equation for the MSTC was established using receiver operating characteristics curves. Sensitivities and specificities of the MSTC were calculated using the PG-SGA as gold standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MSTC was calculated as follows: [MSTC = -0.116 + (1.777 × intake change) + (1.304 × Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) + (1.568 × weight loss) + (-0.187 × body mass index)]. The MSTC had a sensitivity of 94.0%, a specificity of 84.2%, and high agreement (κ = 0.70, P < 0.0001) with the PG-SGA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MSTC appears to be a valid nutrition screening tool for determining nutritional risk in hospitalized cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Research Institute & Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gyung-Ah
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wie
authors.forename: Yeong-Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kum-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sang-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung-Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Hyojee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joung
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity