Low body mass index as a risk factor of moderate to severe oral mucositis in oral cancer patients with radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The association between body mass index (BMI) and oral mucositis in oral cancer patients receiving radiotherapy is unclear. This study examined whether low BMI could be a risk factor for oral mucositis in oral cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.


METHODS
Between April 2007 and March 2011, a total of 33 inpatients with oral cancer receiving radiotherapy were recruited. They were followed from the beginning of radiotherapy to discharge from hospital. All patients had no mucositis when radiotherapy started. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of BMI for incident grade 2 and grade 3 mucositis were calculated by use of univariable logistic regression models.


RESULTS
All patients developed oral mucositis (grade 1 in 39.4 %, grade 2 in 30.3 %, grade 3 in 30.3 %), with the maximum grade occurring at an average of 32.4 days. Compared with normal BMI (≥22.0), the OR of low BMI (<22.0) for moderate to severe mucositis was 9.07 (95 % CI, 1.72-47.68).


CONCLUSIONS
Low BMI may be a risk factor of moderate to severe oral mucositis.
Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kita-kobayashi, Shimotsugagun-Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan. n-saitou@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Nobue
N
Saito
Yutaka
Y
Imai
Takashi
T
Muto
Toshimi
T
Sairenchi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology