title: [Anthropometric parameters in evaluating malnutrition in oncological patients; utility of body mass index and percentage of weight loss].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the BMI and the percentage of weight loss as markers for malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients considering the Patient-Generated Global Subjective Assessment (PG-GSA) as the gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study in patients admitted to the Medical Oncology Department of the Hospital Xeral de Vigo, from May to September of 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  28 patients (15 males). Mean age 63.46 years ± 11.05. Mean BMI 23.75 kg/m² ± 3.62. Mean percentage of weight loss 8.53% ± 6.20. In group A (well nourished) the percentage of weight loss was 1.07 ± 1.85, in group B (moderately malnourished) 7.90 ± 1.73, and in group C (severely malnourished) 10.91 ± 6.91 (p = 0.034). The BMI showed no statistically significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BMI is not a proper parameter todetect malnutrition, by contrast with the percentage of weight loss that did show a direct association with the degree of hyponutrition.
authors.affiliation: Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, España. Silvia.sotelo.gonzalez@sergas.es
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotelo González
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez Sobrino
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrasco Álvarez
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González Villarroel
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Páramo Fernández
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015431:Weight Loss