Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and their influence on nutritional state and performance status in patients with different primary tumors receiving palliative care.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional balance, and performance status in patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancers originating in different sites. We studied a total of 105 patients. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score (ECOG-PS), dietary intakes, anthropometric measures, and some serum proteins were determined. Unintentional weight loss, alterations in anthropometric measures, and highest number of symptoms were greater in patients with lung and stomach cancer. No differences were found in ECOG-PS according to cancer site. Patients with gastric or lung cancer have most evidence of protein-calorie malnutrition and a higher prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The performance status is not affected by tumor site. Early nutritional support should be planned for all patients with cancer, especially for patients with gastric or lung cancer.
1Metabolic-Nutritional Unit and Palliative Care Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Rehabilitation Institute of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Giacomo
G
Bovio
Maria Luisa
ML
Fonte
Paola
P
Baiardi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010166:Palliative Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015431:Weight Loss
D015415:Biomarkers
advanced cancer; malnutrition; nutritional status; palliative care; performance status; upper gastrointestinal symptoms