title: Factors associated with malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients: a croos-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide and with it the prevalence of malnutrition, which is responsible for the death of almost 20% of cancer patients. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study conducted with 277 hospitalized patients in the Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira from March to November 2013. The nutritional status was classified as well-nourished and moderate/severe malnutrition, according to the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment. The association between moderate/severe malnutrition and demographic, behavioral, socioeconomic, clinical, therapeutic and nutritional variables was investigated through univariate regression and hierarchical Poisson models, with a 5% significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of malnutrition was 71.1%, being classified as moderate in 35.4% and severe in 35.7%. After multivariate analysis, smokers/ex-smokers low socioeconomic status, performance status ≥2 and age ≥60 years were associated with increased risk of malnutrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was observed a high prevalence of moderate/severe malnutrition in cancer patients, with the increased risk of malnutrition associated with the presence of factors that can be assessed during hospital admission suggesting a higher alert of the medical and health care staff about the need for nutritional assessment and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil. fernandamelo03@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Fernanda Rafaella de Melo
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil. mirellaozias@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mirella Gondim Ozias Aquino
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil. alexrolland@uol.com.br.|Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil. alexrolland@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Alex Sandro Rolland
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil. natal@imip.org.br.
authors.forename: José Natal
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil. carminassantos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carmina Silva
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors