ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

Background: Cancer treatment itself and particularly chemotherapy seems to be an important nutritional risk factor. Early nutritional assessment can identify problems to help patients increase or maintain weight, improve their response to treatment, and reduce complications.This study aimed to determine the nutritional status of patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 30 subjects between 30 and 70 years of age diagnosed with cancer of various sites and scheduled for first cycle of chemotherapy. Nutritional status of each subject was assessed based on nutritional parameters i.e. Anthropometric [BMI (body mass index), MAMC (mid-arm muscle circumference), TSF (triceps skinfold thickness)], MAC (mid-arm circumference) and Biochemical [(Hb and Albumin)] measurements before the initiation of chemotherapy, and follow-up assessment was performed on the third week after the first cycle of chemotherapy.Results: In this study it has been found that 90% of subjects suffered from weight loss after the first cycle of chemotherapy (3wks post treatment). The't' test showed a significant decrease in TSF [t=5.4(p0.01)] and MAC [t=6.86 (p<0.01)] before and after 3 weeks of chemotherapy. The't' test showed a decrease in MAMC, t=5.83(p<0.01) before and after 3 weeks of chemotherapy. The mean serum Albumin level of the patients before and after 3weeks of chemotherapy was 3.16±.50 g/dl and 3.07±.49 g/dl respectively. A significant decrease in albumin [t=4.17 at p<0.01 level] was observed in patients after chemotherapy. The mean haemoglobin level of the patients before and after 3weeks of chemotherapy was10.64±1.88 g/dl and10.41 ± 1.89 g/dl respectively, which showed a significant decrease [(t=13.32 at p<0.01 level)].Conclusion: The nutritional status assessment must be carried out on each patient at the beginning and during the treatment. The cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy are at risk of malnutrition.