title: Nutritional status, food intake, and dysphagia in long-term survivors with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional status, food intake, and dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer treated by chemoradiotherapy were invited to evaluate nutritional status (malnutrition, relative weight loss), food intake (food modification; quality), and dysphagia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a median follow up of 44 months, 6 of 32 patients were at risk for malnutrition. Women (p = .049) and patients with high body mass index before treatment (p = .024) showed more weight loss. None of the 32 patients could eat a "full diet." Six patients used nutritional supplements/tube feeding. Low dysphagia-related quality of life scores were significantly correlated to increased food modification (r = 0.405; p = .024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutritional advice in patients with head and neck cancer is still necessary years after chemoradiation and should focus on nutritional status, food modification, and quality, in accord with recommended food groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology-Dietetics and Intestinal Failure, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Manon G A
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rütten
authors.forename: Ellen L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rasmussen-Conrad
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knuijt
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Takes
authors.forename: Carla M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Herpen
authors.forename: Geert J A
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wanten
authors.forename: Johannes H A M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kaanders
authors.forename: Matthias A W
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Merkx
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: chemoradiotherapy; dysphagia; head and neck neoplasms; nutrition assessment; nutritional status