title: Relationship between nutritional status, physical activity and quality of life among gastrointestinal cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status, physical activity and quality of life among gastrointestinal cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among gastrointestinal cancer survivors attending the oncology outpatient clinic in Hospital Selayang, Malaysia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 70 gastrointestinal cancer survivors with a mean age of 52.54 +/- 14.59 years (95% CI: 47.48 - 57.60) were included in this study. Results showed that 40% of the patients were classified as having low physical activity. The mean Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PGSGA) score was 10.27 +/- 7.36 (95% CI: 8.23-12.31) and nearly half the patients (48.6%) were identified as severely malnourished (Stage C). Mean Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GQLFI) score was 103.57 +/- 23.85 (95% CI: 92.94-114.20), and about 24.3% of the patients were classified as having a low quality of life. Pearson's correlation test showed a highly significant negative relationship between nutritional status and quality of life (r = -0.661, p<0.001) indicating the better the nutritional status (low total mean score of PGSGA), the better the quality of life of the survivors (high total mean score of GQLFI). There was a significant negative relationship between physical activity level and nutritional status score (r = -0.309, p<0.01), indicating the higher the physical activity level of the patients (high MET-min/week), the better their nutritional status (low total mean score of PGSGA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a significant relationship between nutritional status, physical activity and quality of life among gastrointestinal cancer survivors. Those low in nutritional status have a low quality of life while survivors with higher nutritional status have a better quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. zlina@medic.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Zalina
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandiah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors