Prevalence of malnutrition risk in patients of cancer outpatient clinics - A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background The nutritional status of patients with tumor diseases in German out-patient clinics is largely unknown. This cross-sectional survey on patients with tumor diseases aimed to assess the prevalence of the risk of malnutrition in this group. Methods? In out-patient clinics of oncologists, patients with a diagnosed cancer disease were consecutively interrogated between June 2017 and May 2018 using a standardized questionnaire. In addition to questions on the health status and dietary habits, the validated screening questionnaires Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Nutrition Risk Screening Tool-2002 (NRS-2002) were used to assess the risk of malnutrition of these patients (primary endpoint). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results? In total, data from 765 patients with a diagnosed tumor (60.9 % female) were analyzed. The participants had a mean age of 63.1 ± 13.1 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.2 ± 5.1 kg/m². Using the MUST questionnaire 15.4 % of participants had a moderately increased risk and 19.5 % a high risk of malnutrition. Of those, patients with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract showed the highest rate of malnutrition risk (46.6 %). The criteria for a nutrition risk based on the NRS-2002 questionnaire (score ≥ 3) were fulfilled by 29.1 % of the patients. Less than one third of the patients reported to have received dietary counselling after cancer diagnosis (29.9 %). Conclusion? Every third patient with a diagnosed tumor disease in out-patient care exhibits an increased risk of malnutrition. The results of this survey clearly indicate the need for a systematic screening for malnutrition and an evidence-based nutrition management of tumor patients under ambulatory care.