An analysis of nutritional risk factors in older adults with gastrointestinal tumours

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for nutritional risk in older adults with gastrointestinal tumours.

Materials and methods: A total of 170 eligible hospitalised older adults with gastrointestinal tumours were included. Their clinical characteristics were collected, their nutritional risk was screened by NRS 2002, and then patients were divided into a nutritional risk group and a non-nutritional risk group. The observation indicators included body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, muscle strength, and calf circumference. The third lumbar skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI) was calculated using abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan results, and grip strength/muscle strength, 6-m walking speed and calf circumference were measured. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group (AWGS). Finally, we analysed the relationship between nutritional risk and sarcopenia and other related factors (BMI, calf circumference, L3 SMI, grip strength/muscle strength, 6-m walking speed) in older adults with gastrointestinal tumours by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: Older adults with gastrointestinal tumours who were at nutritional risk accounted for 51.8% of patients in this study. The differences between sex, tumour stage, age, BMI, calf circumference, L3 SMI, grip strength/muscle strength, 6-m walking speed, and prevalence of sarcopenia were statistically significant in two groups (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI, grip strength/muscle strength, and sarcopenia were risk factors of nutritional risk in older adults with gastrointestinal tumours (all P < 0.05).

Discussion: Older adults with gastrointestinal cancer had a higher proportion of nutritional risk, and L3 SMI, grip strength/muscle strength were independent risk factors for nutritional risk. In clinical practice, attention to nutritional risk screening and sarcopenia development in older adults with gastrointestinal cancer is warranted.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal tumours; Nutritional risk; Older adults; Sarcopenia.