Food intake and nutritional status influence outcomes in hospitalized hematology-oncology patients

Nutr Hosp. 2015 Jun 1;31(6):2598-605. doi: 10.3305/nh.2015.31.6.8674.

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in oncology and hematology-oncology patients is important due to its prevalence and associated mortality and morbidity. The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in oncology and hematology patients and determine if intake or malnutrition influences hospitalization outcomes.

Methodology: A cohort study was performed in all patients admitted to the oncology and hematology wards in a 30-day period. Nutritional assessment was performed within 24-hours of admission and repeated after 7 days of hospitalization, including Subjective Global Assessment, anthropometry, dietary assessment (24-hour recall) and estimation of caloric and protein needs. Medical records were reviewed 30 days after discharge.

Results: Seventy-three patients were evaluated on admission and 29 on day 7 of hospitalization. The prevalence of malnutrition was 47.7%. On admission, patients consumed 71.6 (SD 22.0)% of the prescribed dietary calories and 68.2 (SD 23.5)% of prescribed proteins. The death rate was 2.8% among patients who ate ≥75% and 17.9% among those who ate <75% (p = 0.040). No significant differences were observed between the intake of calories (p = 0.124) and protein (p = 0.126) on admission and on day 7 of hospitalization. Nutritional status was related to readmission rate, being 35.1% for malnourished vs. 8% for well-nourished (p = 0.014). Nutritional status and food intake were not related to the rest of the studied outcomes (length of stay and mechanical, metabolic or infectious complications).

Conclusions: Intake did not decrease during hospitalization. There was an upward trend between reduced intake and mortality. Malnutrition was related to hospital readmission.

Introducción: la malnutrición en el paciente oncohematológico es importante debido a su prevalencia y a su morbimortalidad asociadas. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la prevalencia de malnutrición en el paciente oncohematológico y determinar si la ingesta o la malnutrición afectan a las complicaciones del paciente hospitalizado. Metodología: estudio de corte realizado en todos los pacientes admitidos en las plantas de oncología y hematología durante un periodo de 30 días. La valoración nutricional se realizó durante las 24 primeras horas tras el ingreso y se repitió a los 7 días de hospitalización, incluyendo Valoración Subjetiva Global, antropometría, recuerdo de 24 horas y estimación de las necesidades calóricas y proteicas. Las historias médicas fueron revisadas a los 30 días tras el alta. Resultados: setenta y tres pacientes fueron evaluados al ingreso y 29 a los siete días de su hospitalización. La prevalencia de malnutrición fue 47,7%. Al ingreso, los pacientes consumieron 71,6 (DE 22,0)% de las calorías prescritas y 68,2 (DE 22,0)% de las proteínas prescritas. La tasa de fallecimientos fue 2,8% entre los pacientes que consumieron ≥75% y 17,9% entre aquellos que consumieron.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Eating*
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Prevalence