title: A longitudinal study investigating quality of life and nutritional outcomes in advanced cancer patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cancer patients where gastrointestinal function is marginal and malnutrition significant enough to result in the requirement for intensive nutrition support, parenteral nutrition (PN) is indicated. This longitudinal study examined the quality of life (QoL) and nutritional outcomes in advanced cancer patients receiving home PN (HPN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two adult cancer patients (21 males, 31 females, average age 53 years) treated at a specialized cancer facility between April 2009 and November 2011 met criteria. QoL and nutritional status were measured at baseline and every month while on HPN using EORTC-QLQ-C30, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Repeated measures ANOVA and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in QoL and SGA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cancer diagnoses included pancreatic (n = 14), colorectal (n = 11), ovarian (n = 6), appendix (n = 5), stomach (n = 4) and others (n = 12). Average weight loss 6-months prior to HPN was 13.2 kg (16.9%). Average weight at initiation of HPN was 62.2 kg. In patients with available follow-up data after 1 month (n = 39), there was a significant improvement in SGA, weight (61.5 to 63.1 kg; p = 0.03) and KPS (61.6 to 67.3; p = 0.01) from baseline. Similarly, after 2 months (n = 22), there was an improvement in global QoL (37.1 to 49.2; p = 0.02), SGA, weight (57.6 to 60 kg; p = 0.04) and KPS (63.2 to 73.2; p = 0.01) from baseline. Finally, after 3 months (n = 15), there was an improvement in global QoL (30.6 to 54.4; p = 0.02), SGA, weight (61.1 to 65.9 kg; p = 0.04) and KPS (64.0 to 78.7; p = 0.002) from baseline. Upon GEE analysis, every 1 month of HPN was associated with an increase of 6.3 points in global QoL (p<0.001), 1.3 kg in weight (p = 0.009) and 5.8 points in KPS (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPN is associated with an improvement in QoL, KPS and nutritional status in advanced cancer patients, irrespective of their tumor type, who have compromised enteral intake and malnutrition. The greatest benefit was seen in patients with 3 months of HPN, although patients receiving HPN for 1 or 2 months also demonstrated significant improvements.
authors.forename: Pankaj G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Vashi
authors.forename: Sadie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dahlk
authors.forename: Brenten
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popiel
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lammersfeld
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ireton-Jones
authors.affiliation: Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, 2520 Elisha Avenue, Zion, IL 60099, USA. digant.gupta@ctca-hope.com.
authors.forename: Digant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016331:Parenteral Nutrition, Home / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome