title: Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, albumin and transferrin for nutritional assessment of gastrostomy fed head or neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrostomy fed head or neck cancer patients frequently have impaired speech capacities. Enteral feeding teams frequently depend on laboratorial or anthropometrical parameters for nutritional assessment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In these patients, this study aimed to evaluate: (1) the practicability of Scored - Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA); (2) their nutritional status using the Scored-PG-SGA; (3) association of serum albumin and transferrin values to the nutritional status rating using PG-SGA.
  
  
  METHODS
  On adult outpatients with head or neck cancer under prolonged (> 1 month) gastrostomy feeding, Scored-PGSGA, albumin and transferrin were evaluated during the same appointment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scored-PG-SGA was easily feasible in 42 patients, even in patients with speech difficulties. Twenty-five patients were moderately/severely undernourished (PG-SGA/B+C). Scored-PG-SGA rated 41 patients as ≥ 2, thus needing nutritional/ pharmacologic intervention. Albumin was low in 13 patients. Transferrin was low in 19 patients. Average albumin and transferrin in moderately/severely undernourished patients (PG-SGA/B+C) was significantly lower than in well-nourished (PG-SGA/A). There was association between Scored- PG-SGA rating, albumin and transferrin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In PEG fed head or neck cancer patients, PGSGA was practicable and useful, even in patients with impaired speaking skills. Most patients displayed moderate/severe malnutrition (PG-SGA/B+C). Scored-PG-SGA rated 41 patients as needing for nutritional/pharmacological intervention. Scored-PG-SGA should be systematically included in the evaluation of these patients. In these patients, albumin and transferrin levels showed relation with Scored-PG-SGA and should be considered as nutritional biomarkers.
authors: GENE. Enteral Feeding Group. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.. carla.adriana.santos@hotmail.com.
authors: Marta Alexandra
authors: MA
authors: Correira Pereira
authors: GENE. Enteral Feeding Group. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.. carla.adriana.santos@hotmail.com.
authors: Carla Adriana
authors: CA
authors: Santos
authors: CiiEM. Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz. Almada. Portugal.. carla.adriana.santos@hotmail.com.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Almeida Brito
authors: GENE. Enteral Feeding Group. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal. CiiEM. Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz. Almada. Portugal.. carla.adriana.santos@hotmail.com.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010045:Outpatients; D061250:Transferrins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D061250:Transferrins