Use of the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutrition assessment tool in patients with cancer

Malnutrition and clinical outcomes post alloSCT

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition has been linked with higher risk of poor outcomes post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT); however, few studies have used a validated nutrition assessment tool such as the Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (i.e., PG-SGA) to measure nutritional status and investigate associations with long-term clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the incidence of malnutrition prior to alloSCT and determine whether there was an association between nutritional status pre-transplant and post-transplant clinical outcomes including acute kidney injury, graft-versus-host disease, intensive care admission, need for haemodialysis and survival.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 362 patients (213 males:149 females, mean ± SD age = 47.8 ± 14.1 years) who underwent alloSCT from 2008 to 2013 was conducted. Data on clinical outcomes were obtained for 5 years post-transplant.

RESULTS

Fifteen percent (n = 56) of patients were identified as malnourished pre-admission. Malnutrition was associated with longer hospital stay (p = 0.007), increased requirement for haemodialysis (p = 0.016) and increased admissions to the intensive care unit (p = 0.003). There was no association between malnutrition and acute kidney injury, graft-versus-host disease or survival. Following multivariate analyses, malnutrition remained significantly associated with increased admission rates to the intensive care unit (odds ratio = 3.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-10.5, p = 0.011) and increased length of hospital stay > 30 days (odds ratio = 3.6. 95% confidence interval = 1.8-7.4, p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings add importance to the need for nutrition screening and assessment to be routinely undertaken for patients prior to alloSCT and throughout hospitalisation to provide early nutrition intervention for the prevention of malnutrition, poor clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

Relations of perceived injustice to psycho-spiritual outcomes in advanced lung and prostate cancer: Examining the role of acceptance and meaning making

OBJECTIVE

Many advanced cancer patients struggle with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger toward God and illness-related stressors. Patients may perceive their illness as an injustice (i.e., appraise their illness as unfair, severe, and irreparable or blame others for their illness), which may be a risk factor for poor psychological and spiritual outcomes. This study examined relations between cancer-related perceived injustice and psycho-spiritual outcomes as well as potential mediators of these relationships.

METHODS

Advanced lung (n = 102) and prostate (n = 99) cancer patients completed a one-time survey. Using path analyses, we examined a parallel mediation model including the direct effects of perceived injustice on psycho-spiritual outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, anger about cancer, anger towards God) and the indirect effects of perceived injustice on psycho-spiritual outcomes through two parallel mediators: meaning making and acceptance of cancer. We then explored whether these relations differed by cancer type.

RESULTS

Path analyses indicated that perceived injustice was directly and indirectly-through acceptance of cancer but not meaning making-associated with psycho-spiritual outcomes. Results did not differ between lung and prostate cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced cancer patients with greater perceived injustice are at higher risk for poor psycho-spiritual outcomes. Acceptance of cancer, but not meaning making, explained relationships between cancer-related perceived injustice and psycho-spiritual outcomes. Findings support testing acceptance-based interventions to address perceived injustice in advanced cancer patients.

Nutritional status assessed by Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment is associated with toxicity to chemoradiotherapy in women with cervical cancer: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), a validated tool for nutritional assessment, has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. However, studies assessing its relationship in chemoradiotherapy outcomes are scarce. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition according to PG-SGA and its association with the incidence of toxicity to chemoradiotherapy treatment in women with cervical cancer.

METHODS

In a single-centre prospective observational study, we enrolled 391 women with locally advanced cervical cancer. Patients were assessed on the day of their first chemotherapy infusion, when nutritional status was evaluated by the PG-SGA form and anthropometric measurements. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected. Toxicity to chemoradiotherapy was assessed weekly and toxicity-induced modification of treatment (TIMT) was defined as any serious adverse event that resulted in treatment delay, interruption, or dose reduction. Multivariate mixed-effects Poisson and Logistic regression models were performed to identify the factors contributing to the outcome number of adverse events ≥ grade 3 and TIMT, respectively.

RESULTS

Malnutrition was found in 47.6% of the population. Roughly 1/3 had TIMT and 54.2% experienced at least one symptom ≥grade 3. In the adjusted models, PG-SGA B and C, as well as the score ≥9 were independent predictors of the number of toxicity events ≥grade 3 and higher incidence of TIMT.

CONCLUSIONS

PG-SGA may represent an important assessment tool to predict toxicity outcomes in women with cervical cancer, besides being considered a simple, fast, and low-cost tool, which allows early nutritional care.

Clinical impact of serum prealbumin in pancreaticobiliary disease

Purpose

Although there are many studies on prealbumin in individual diseases such as malignant or inflammatory diseases, there are few comparative studies. This study aimed to compare the clinical differences between prealbumin levels in cholecystitis and pancreaticobiliary malignancies and investigate the clinical impact of low prealbumin levels in pancreaticobiliary malignancies.

Methods

From June 2021 to September 2021, 61 patients who had undergone surgery for various pancreaticobiliary diseases were enrolled in this study, and their clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Many elderly patients with malignant diseases had poor American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, significantly lower albumin and prealbumin levels, and higher systemic immune inflammation indices. The low prealbumin group was older; had poorer ASA scores; and had significantly lower body mass index and hemoglobin and albumin levels and higher systemic immune inflammation indices than the normal prealbumin group. In malignant diseases, the low prealbumin group had significantly lower body mass index and hemoglobin levels and a tendency toward more advanced disease (lymph node and distant metastasis).

Conclusion

Preoperative low prealbumin levels had an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.69, suggesting that it may be useful for predicting pancreaticobiliary malignancies. Prealbumin levels were lower in malignant diseases, possibly related to poor nutritional status and systemic immune inflammation. Low prealbumin levels may predict the risk of more advanced disease.

Targeting cancer cachexia: Molecular mechanisms and clinical study

Cancer cachexia is a complex systemic catabolism syndrome characterized by muscle wasting. It affects multiple distant organs and their crosstalk with cancer constitute cancer cachexia environment. During the occurrence and progression of cancer cachexia, interactions of aberrant organs with cancer cells or other organs in a cancer cachexia environment initiate a cascade of stress reactions and destroy multiple organs including the liver, heart, pancreas, intestine, brain, bone, and spleen in metabolism, neural, and immune homeostasis. The role of involved organs turned from inhibiting tumor growth into promoting cancer cachexia in cancer progression. In this review, we depicted the complicated relationship of cancer cachexia with the metabolism, neural, and immune homeostasis imbalance in multiple organs in a cancer cachexia environment and summarized the treatment progress in recent years. And we discussed the molecular mechanism and clinical study of cancer cachexia from the perspective of multiple organs metabolic, neurological, and immunological abnormalities. Updated understanding of cancer cachexia might facilitate the exploration of biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets of cancer cachexia.

R-CSS: A clinically applicable score to classify cachexia stages in patients with cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy

Objective

Accurate cachexia staging is the key to its management. However, there is currently a lack of tools to distinguish the staging of cachexia in patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The Radiotherapy Cachexia Staging Scale (R-CSS) was developed for the stratification of cachexia in patients undergoing cancer radiotherapy.

Methods

Patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy were divided into four stages - noncachexia, precachexia, cachexia, and refractory cachexia - by the R-CSS scale, and the clinical outcomes of the four groups were compared.

Results

A total of 270 patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy were included in the study. All participants were classified into four stages of cachexia: stage 0, I, II, and III. Patients with a higher cachexia stage had a higher prevalence of sarcopenia (P ​= ​0.015). Scores on the 16-item M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory were higher in patients with higher cachexia stages (P ​< ​0.05), but levels of forgetfulness, numbness, and shortness of breath were not higher in these patients (P ​> ​0.05). Patients with higher cachexia stages exhibited better scores on the QLQ-C30 scale (P ​< ​0.05), except for in the domains of cognitive functioning, diarrhea, and dyspnea (P ​> ​0.05). The incidence of treatment-related events (any grade III or higher grade of [non-]hematologic adverse events, the need for hospitalization, emergency room admission) was higher in patients with higher cachexia stages.

Conclusions

The R-CSS scale is a screening tool that can simultaneously distinguish different stages of cachexia.

The relationship between nutritional status at the time of stroke on adverse outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

The impact of existing malnutrition on stroke outcomes is poorly recognised and treated. Evidence was systematically reviewed and quantified by meta-analysis.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched from inception to 11 January 2021 and updated in July. Prospective cohort studies, in English, evaluating anthropometric and biomarkers of nutrition on stroke outcomes were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network checklist.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies (n = 156 249) were eligible (follow-up: One month-14 years). Underweight patients had increased risk of long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.65,1.41-1.95), whilst overweight (0.80,0.74-0.86) and obese patients (0.80,0.75-0.85) had decreased risk compared to normal weight. Odds of mortality decreased in those with high serum albumin (odds ratio = 0.29,0.18-0.48) and increased with low serum albumin (odds ratio = 3.46,1.78-6.74) compared to normal serum albumin (30-35 g/L). Being malnourished compared to well-nourished, as assessed by the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) or by a combination of anthropometric and biochemical markers increased all-cause mortality (odds ratio = 2.38,1.85-3.06) and poor functional status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.21,1.40-3.49).

CONCLUSION

Nutritional status at the time of stroke predicts adverse stroke outcomes.

Two Distinct Nutritional Assessment Tools Have Dissimilar Outcomes in a Sample of Older Adult Patients With Cancer

Introduction

Malnutrition is strongly associated with negative outcomes in aged populations with cancer. Several studies have compared the outcomes of nutritional-screening tools, but knowledge specifically covering older adult patients with cancer remains limited. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of two tools, the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) versus the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for this population.

Method

Cross-sectional study with 432 participants who consented to participate and were enrolled at admission to medical and surgical wards of a tertiary referral hospital. The participants’ nutritional statuses were simultaneously assessed using the PG-SGA and the MNA, and the outcomes compared using the kappa statistical test. The Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) was employed to calculate the MNA sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and was compared with PG-SGA.

Results

Prevalence of good nourishment was observed in 62.5% and 61.1% of the participants, as detected by PG-SGA and MNA, respectively. Both tools concurred moderately (kappa = 0.453). Importantly, there were significant differences in the diagnosis of malnutrition (7.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.000). The MNA showed sensitivity of 72.2% and specificity of 75.9% in detecting good nourishment for the population investigated.

Conclusion

The MNA may not present greater sensitivity, possibly due to a lack of coverage of gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a quick and efficient tool for nutritional assessment of older adult patients with cancer, but as it is more specific than sensitive, caution is recommended when identifying borderline or early malnourished individuals of this population.

Prognostic significance of malnutrition risk in elderly patients with acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in critically ill patients, but nutrition status in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) has been poorly studied. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition risk and the occurrence and prognosis of AKI in elderly patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

Data were extracted from the Beijing Acute Kidney Injury Trial (BAKIT). A total of 1873 elderly patients were included and compared according to the clinical characteristics of AKI and non-AKI groups, and those of survivors and non-survivors of AKI in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the predictive value of the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score for the occurrence and 28-day prognosis of AKI. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the mNUTRIC score on the 28-day mortality in AKI patients.

RESULTS

Compared with the non-AKI group, AKI patients had higher mNUTRIC scores, and non-survivors had higher mNUTRIC scores than survivors in AKI population. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression showed that 28-day mortality in AKI patients increased by 9.8% (95% CI, 1.018-1.184) for every point increase in the mNUTRIC score, and the mNUTRIC score had good predictive ability for the occurrence of AKI and 28-day mortality in AKI patients. The mortality of AKI patients with mNUTRIC > 4 was significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly patients are at high risk of malnutrition, which affects the occurrence and prognosis of AKI. Adequate attention should be given to the nutritional status of elderly patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (registration number Chi CTR-ONC-11001875) on 14 December 2011.

Monitoring energy balance through clinical and serum biomarkers in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy

Despite widespread concern about energy imbalance due to tumor and chemotherapy-related side effects, little is known about detailed variations in energy input, metabolic rate, and physical activity. This study explored changes in energy balance components and serum biomarkers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Our prospective study included 40 patients with hematologic malignancies hospitalized for chemotherapy. We measured energy balance components, physical function, and serum biomarkers at baseline and weekly after chemotherapy for 3 weeks. Significant weight loss, representing negative energy balance, occurred at 2 (p = 0.002) and 3 weeks (p < 0.001) post-chemotherapy. Statistically reduced oral intake was observed at 3 weeks post-chemotherapy (p = 0.040), and resting energy expenditure statistically decreased according to Harris-Benedict equation, but not to Penn State University equation. Physical function according to DEMMI score decreased significantly at 3 weeks post-chemotherapy (p = 0.002). Serum biomarker analysis demonstrated significant changes in albumin, total protein, CXCL13, and GDF15, with exception of leptin. Although conventional serum biomarkers (total protein and albumin) did not reach pathological states despite their statistical differences, subgroup analysis showed CXCL13 in weight loss group and GDF15 in reduced oral intake group were significantly changed. Over half of patients (65.0%, n = 26) suffered from energy imbalance associated with weight loss and reduced oral intake during chemotherapy. Serial laboratory results suggested that novel biomarkers (CXCL13, GDF15) could be correlated with cachexic state and reduced food intake. Monitoring clinical and serum biomarkers associated with energy balance together can help identify needs for nutritional support in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy.

Assessment of nutritional status of oncology patients at hospital admission: A Portuguese real-world study

Background

Nutritional status in patients with cancer has a determining role in the evolution of the disease and tolerance to treatments. Severity of undernutrition impacts morbidity and mortality in cancer patients and can limit patient response to the optimal therapies if nutritional issues are not appropriately addressed and managed. Despite the importance of malnutrition for the clinical evolution of oncology patients, there is not yet a universally accepted standard method for evaluating malnutrition in such patients. The aim of this study was to stratify the nutritional status of inpatients at an Oncology Department.

Methods

This is an observational study with 561 cancer patients, assessed at admission to a Medical Oncology Department from November 2016 to February 2020. All patients were considered eligible. Non-compliant and/or comatose patients were excluded. Nutritional status was assessed using the PG-SGA, BMI classified with the WHO criteria, and calculation of the percentage of weight loss in the previous 3–6 months.

Results

A total of 561 patients (303 F: 258 M; mean age 65 ± 13 years) were included. One-third of the patients, n=191/561 (34%), lost 6% of their weight in the month prior to admission and 297/561 (53%) patients lost 10.2% of weight in the previous 6 months. Mean BMI was 24.1 ± 5.8 kg/m²; N = 280/561 (50%) patients had regular BMI according to the WHO criteria. N = 331/561 (59%) patients reported eating less in the month prior to admission. N = 303/561 (54%) had moderate/severe deficits of muscle and adipose compartments. The PG-SGA identified 499/561 (89%) patients as moderately/severely malnourished, of which 466/561 (83%) patients scored ≥9 points, meeting criteria for a critical need for nutritional support. Fifteen percent of patients scored >4 points, indicating a need for directed therapy for symptom control and only 1% scored <2 points (maintenance nutritional counseling).

Conclusion

In this oncological setting, a higher proportion of patients were nutritionally-at-risk or with moderate/severe malnutrition. The large majority of patients in this study presented with a critical need for nutritional intervention. These findings highlight the need for an integrated assessment of nutritional status at patient referral. This will allow early and timely nutrition care, which is recommended to prevent or reverse further deterioration of the condition and to optimize treatment administration.

Translation and validation of the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment against the Mini-Nutritional Assessment for patients with gastric cancer

Objective

This study aimed to (1) translate the PG-SGA into Korean according to a translation guideline, (2) validate the translated version against the Mini-Nutritional Assessment, and (3) determine the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods

The translation of the PG-SGA was based on the Guidelines for Translation by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation Group. The translated version was validated in 226 patients with gastric cancer, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUC-ROC), measures of sensitivity, specificity, and the Youden index. The prevalence of malnutrition was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

The AUC-ROC Korean version of the PG-SGA was 0.85, and a score of 12 was the most optimal cut-off score, with a sensitivity of 78.6% and a Youden index of 0.54. One-third of participants were malnourished, and 70% of them had more than one physical symptom affecting their food intake.

Conclusions

The Korean version of the PG-SGA is an effective and valid assessment tool for evaluating malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer. A new cut-off score could be used in patients with gastric cancer to assess malnutrition.

•

The Korean version of PG-SGA has undergone a systematic translation process.

•

It is a valid instrument for assessing malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer.

•

Nurses could assess patients’ symptoms related to food intake using PG-SGA.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques for oesophageal cancer and nutritional recovery: a prospective population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To explore whether the minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIE) or hybrid minimally invasive oesophagectomy (HMIE) are associated with better nutritional status and less weight loss 1 year after surgery, compared with open oesophagectomy (OE).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

All patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer in Sweden during 2013-2018.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 424 patients alive at 1 year after surgery were eligible, and 281 completed the 1-year assessment. Of these, 239 had complete clinical data and were included in the analysis.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was nutritional status at 1 year after surgery, assessed using the abbreviated Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment questionnaire. The secondary outcomes included postoperative weight loss at 6 months and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Of the included patients, 78 underwent MIE, 74 HMIE while 87 patients underwent OE. The MIE group had the highest prevalence of malnutrition (42% vs 22% after HMIE vs 25% after OE), reduced food intake (63% vs 45% after HMIE vs 39% after OE), symptoms reducing food intake (60% vs 45% after HMIE vs 60% after OE) and abnormal activities/function (45% vs 32% after HMIE vs 43% after OE). After adjustment for confounders, MIE was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of reduced food intake 1 year after surgery (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.47 to 5.61), compared with OE. Other outcomes were not statistically significantly different between the groups. No statistically significant associations were observed between surgical techniques and weight loss up to 1 year after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

MIE was statistically significantly associated with reduced food intake 1 year after surgery. However, no differences were observed in weight loss between the surgical techniques. Further studies on nutritional impact of surgical techniques in oesophageal cancer are needed.

The changing face of head and neck cancer: are patients with human papillomavirus-positive disease at greater nutritional risk? A systematic review

PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now the primary cause of oropharyngeal head and neck cancer (OPC) worldwide; yet limited research has examined the effect of HPV-positive status (OPC+) on nutrition outcomes. This study aims to determine the impact of HPV status on nutritional outcomes for adult patients with OPC undergoing any treatment modality.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted up to and including July 2021 of PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Web of Science to identify studies conducted in adults (>18 years) with known OPC reporting on any outcome(s) related to nutrition, according to HPV status (OPC+ versus OPC-). Bias was assessed using QUIPS tool, with certainty of evidence assessed using GRADE system.

RESULTS

Six studies (total n = 635) all at moderate-high risk of bias were included. Three studies reported on weight change (n = 255), three feeding tube dependency (n = 380), three feeding tube timing of placement (prophylactic or reactive) and/or utilisation (n = 255), two nutritional (energy and/or protein) intake (n = 230), and one nutritional status (n = 83). Patients with OPC+ may experience greater weight loss, may have higher utilisation of reactive feeding tubes (both GRADE low certainty, downgraded due to serious bias and imprecision), and may have lower feeding tube dependency rates (GRADE low certainty, downgraded due to serious bias and inconsistency) versus OPC- . It is uncertain whether nutritional intake and nutritional status differed between populations (GRADE very low certainty, downgraded due to serious bias and very serious imprecision).

CONCLUSION

Further, high-quality research is needed to understand optimal nutritional care practices for patients with OPC + to achieve positive health outcomes into survivorship.

Associations of intermuscular adipose tissue and total muscle wasting score in PG-SGA with low muscle radiodensity and mass in nonmetastatic colorectal cancer: A two-center cohort study

Backgrounds

The patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) is one of the screening criteria for malnutrition, the skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) are associated with survival in colorectal cancer patients. Body composition parameters can be easily assessed; however, few studies have examined the association between total muscle wasting scores in PG-SGA and body composition parameters and two muscle abnormalities.

Methods

This cohort study included 1,637 stage I-III CRC patients from 2 clinical centers in China, who were enrolled in the training cohort (n = 1,005) and validation cohort (n = 632). Baseline data were collected prospectively from patients including age, BMI, staging, gait speed, hand grip strength (HGS), peak expiratory flow (PEF), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), visceral fat area (VFA) and total muscle wasting score in PG-SGA. Relevant risk factors were subjected to logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis to identify characteristics associated with muscle abnormalities and survival. Based on the logistic model results, normograms were established to predict muscle abnormalities, and its discrimination and calibration were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve. The Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the survival of colorectal cancer patients with malnutrition or sarcopenia in an inflammatory state (assessed by NLR).

Results

The mean age of all participants was 57.7 ± 10.6 years (56.9% males) and the prevalence of low SMD and low SMI was 32.2 and 39.5%, respectively. Low SMD rate was significantly associated with age, TNM stage, BMI, IMAT, walking speed, total muscle wasting score and NRS2002 score by logistic regression analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Low SMI rate was significantly correlated with age, NLR, BMI, PEF, handgrip strength, calf circumference, walking speed, total muscle wasting score and NRS2002 score (p &lt; 0.05). The AUCs of the diagnostic nomograms were 0.859 (95% CI, 0.831–0.886) for low SMD and 0.843 (95% CI, 0.813–0.871) for low SMI in the validation cohort. We also found that patients with colorectal cancer with malnutrition or sarcopenia had a worse prognosis when NLR ≥3.5.

Conclusion

Muscle abnormalities and malnutrition are strongly associated with mortality in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. Early identification and intervention of the associated risk factors may offer new ways to improve patient prognosis.

Pretreatment Glasgow Prognostic Score Correlated with Serum Histidine Level and Three-Year Mortality of Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Optimal Performance Status

Few prospective cohort trials have investigted the effect of pretreatment nutritional and inflammatory status on the clinical outcome of patients with cancer and optimal performance status and assessed the interplay between nutrition, inflammation, body composition, and circulating metabolites before treatment. Here, 50 patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≤ 2 were prospectively recruited along with 43 healthy participants. Before concurrent chemoradiotherapy, compared with healthy controls, the cancer group showed lower levels of histidine, leucine, and phenylalanine and had low values in anthropometric and body composition measurements; however, the group displayed higher ornithine levels, more malnutrition, and severe inflammation. Pretreatment advanced Glasgow prognostic score (1 and 2) status was the sole prognostic factor for 3-year mortality rate and was associated with age and serum histidine levels in patients with cancer. Thus, even at the same tumor stage and ECOG PS, patients with LAHNSCC, poor nutrition, and high inflammation severity at baseline may have inferior survival outcomes than those with adequate nutrition and low inflammation severity. Assessment of pretreatment nutritional and inflammatory status should be included in the enrollment criteria in future studies.

Effect of Early and Intensive Telephone or Electronic Nutrition Counselling Delivered to People with Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer on Quality of Life: A Three-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Delay in dietetic service provision for upper gastrointestinal cancer exacerbates disease-related malnutrition and consequently increases morbidity and mortality. Dietetic services are usually referral-based and provided face-to-face in inpatient or outpatient settings, which can delay the commencement of nutrition care. The aim of this study was to provide intensive dietetic intervention close to the time of diagnosis for upper gastrointestinal cancer and assess the effect on quality-adjusted life years.

METHODS

A three-arm randomised controlled trial of adults newly diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal cancer was performed. A behavioural-based, individually tailored, symptom-directed nutrition intervention was provided in addition to usual care, delivered by a dietitian using a telephone (synchronously) or a mobile application (asynchronously) for 18 weeks, compared with a usual care control group. Data were collected at baseline, three, six, and twelve months post-randomisation. The primary outcome was quality-adjusted life years (EQ-5D-5L quality of life assessment tool). Data were analysed using linear mixed models.

RESULTS

One hundred and eleven participants were randomised. Quality-adjusted life years were not different in the intervention groups compared with control (telephone: mean (95% CI) 0.04 (0.43, 2.3), p = 0.998; App: -0.08 (-0.18, 0.02), p = 0.135) after adjustment for baseline, nutrition risk status, age, and gender. Survival was similar between groups over 12 months. The asynchronous mobile app group had a greater number of withdrawals compared with the telephone group.

CONCLUSION

Early and intensive nutrition counselling, delivered at home, during anticancer treatment did not change quality-adjusted life years or survival over 12 months compared with usual care. Behavioural counselling alone was unable to achieve nutritional adequacy. Dietetic services delivered asynchronously using a mobile app had low acceptance for patients undergoing anticancer treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

27 January 2017 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12617000152325.

Effects of Five-Step Nutritional Interventions Conducted by a Multidisciplinary Care Team on Gastroenteric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The present study aims to report a five-step nutritional intervention conducted by a multidisciplinary care team as well as to investigate its effects on the nutritional status and quality of life of gastroenteric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 176 patients with newly diagnosed gastroenteric cancer were enrolled in the observational study. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed using Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002), and anthropometry and biological tests were performed. Patients were randomly divided into intervention group (n = 40) and control group (n = 38). Patients in the intervention group received five-step nutrition intervention, while the control group received routine nutrition management. In the newly diagnosed patients with gastroenteric cancer, 50% presented mild to moderate malnutrition, 29.5% presented severe malnutrition, while only 20.5% of patients were in good nutritional status. Nutritional interventions reduced the progression of malnutrition after 10 weeks. Anthropometric parameters increased as well as function and symptoms improved; therefore, controlled the decline in quality of life. To sum up, five-step nutritional interventions conducted by a multidisciplinary care team improved the nutritional status of patients with gastroenteric cancer undergoing chemotherapy, and showed positive impacts on quality of life.

Effect of preoperative nutritional support in malnourished patients with pancreatobiliary cancer: a quasi-experimental study

Background

In malnourished patients, postoperative morbidity, hospitalization period, and medical expenses are reportedly to be high. We evaluated the clinical impact of a preoperative nutritional support program (PNSP) among malnourished cancer patients.

Methods

For this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled 90 patients who underwent major pancreatobiliary cancer surgery. Malnutrition was defined as at least one of the following: (1) Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) grade B or C; (2) > 10% weight loss within 6 months; (3) body mass index <18.5 kg/m²; and (4) serum albumin level < 3.0 g/dL. Forty-five malnourished patients allocated to the PNSP group received in-hospital PNSP for a median of 6 (4–35) days. In the PNSP group, the nutrition support team calculated the patients’ daily nutritional requirements based on their nutritional status and previous day’s intake. The supplementation targets were as follows: total calorie intake, 30–35 kcal/kg/day; protein intake, 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day; and lipid intake, 1–1.5 g/kg/day. Patients who did not meet the diagnostic criteria for malnutrition were allocated to the well-nourished group and underwent surgery without receiving the PNSP (n = 45). We compared the perioperative nutritional indices (as measured using PG-SGA), postoperative outcome, and quality of life (QOL) according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0.

Results

In the PNSP group, the proportion of patients with serum prealbumin <16 mg/dL decreased significantly after PNSP (29.5% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.013). Moreover, patients with PG-SGA grade A had a statistically significant increase (2.2% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). The overall and major complication rates were higher in the PNSP group than in the well-nourished group without significance (51.1%, 33.3%; 42.2%, 26.7%, respectively). However, the overall and major complication rates were similar between the subgroup with PG-SGA improvement after PNSP and the well-nourished group (40.9% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.958; 27.3% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.525, respectively). QOL indicators in the PNSP group were comparable with those in the well-nourished group after PNSP.

Conclusion

PNSP may improve perioperative nutritional status and clinical outcomes among malnourished patients with pancreatobiliary cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-022-00555-2.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden in advanced gastrointestinal cancer: Results of a pilot randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Fatigue often interferes with functioning in patients with advanced cancer, resulting in increased family caregiver burden. Acceptance and commitment therapy, a promising intervention for cancer-related suffering, has rarely been applied to dyads coping with advanced cancer.

AIM

To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for patient-caregiver dyads coping with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Primary outcomes were patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden.

DESIGN

In this pilot trial, dyads were randomized to six weekly sessions of telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy or education/support, an attention control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-intervention.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Forty patients with stage III-IV gastrointestinal cancer and fatigue interference and family caregivers with burden or distress were recruited from two oncology clinics and randomized.

RESULTS

The eligibility screening rate (54%) and retention rate (81% at 2 weeks post-intervention) demonstrated feasibility. At 2 weeks post-intervention, acceptance and commitment therapy participants reported high intervention helpfulness (mean = 4.25/5.00). Group differences in outcomes were not statistically significant. However, when examining within-group change, acceptance and commitment therapy patients showed moderate decline in fatigue interference at both follow-ups, whereas education/support patients did not show improvement at either follow-up. Acceptance and commitment therapy caregivers showed medium decline in burden at 2 weeks that was not sustained at 3 months, whereas education/support caregivers showed little change in burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptance and commitment therapy showed strong feasibility, acceptability, and promise and warrants further testing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04010227. Registered 8 July 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04010227?term=catherine+mosher&draw=2&rank=1.

Nutritional screening in a cancer prehabilitation programme: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients are often malnourished pre-operatively. Study aims were to establish if current screening was appropriate for use in prehabilitation and investigate any association between nutritional risk, functionality and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

This cohort study used routinely collected data from September 2020 to August 2021 from patients in a Prehab4cancer programme. Included patients were aged >18 years, had colorectal, lung or oesophago-gastric cancer and were scheduled for surgery. Nutritional assessment included patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) short-form and QoL with a sit-to-stand test. Association between nutritional risk and outcomes were analysed using adjusted logistic regression.

RESULTS

From 928 patients referred to Prehab4Cancer service over 12-months, data on nutritional risk were collected from 526 patients. Pre-operatively, 233 out of 526 (44%) patients were at nutritional risk (score ≥2). During prehabilitation, 31% of patients improved their PG-SGA and 74% of patients maintained or improved their weight. Odds ratios (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) showed that patients with better QoL using EuroQol-5 Dimensions (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01, 0.45, P=0.01), EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93, 1.00, p=0.04) or sit-to-stand (OR 0.96, 95% 0.93, 1.00, p=0.04) were less likely to be nutritional at risk.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of patients in Prehab4Cancer programme assessed using PG-SGA were at risk of malnutrition. However, almost half of the sample did not have their risk assessed. Patients at risk of malnutrition were more likely to have a poorer QoL and sit-to-stand test than those who were not at risk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The clinical application value of phase angle of six parts in nutritional evaluation of tumor patients

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical application value of phase angle (PA) of six parts in the nutritional evaluation and construct a prediction model for diagnosing malnutrition of tumor patients.

METHODS

A total of 1129 patients with malignant tumors were analyzed retrospectively. The age, sex, tumor location and body mass index (BMI) of the patients were collected, and PA of six parts was measured. The Patient Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was used to evaluate the nutritional status of each patient.

RESULTS

According to the PG-SGA, 66.5% (n = 750) of the patients were evaluated as malnourished. Patients under the age of 65 had higher PA values. The PA value of men was higher than that of women (except PA-RL). In different disease groups, the PA-RA and PA-TR values were significantly different. In our study, PA value increases with BMI and decreases with PG-SGA (except PG-SGA 0-1 group). Multivariate regression analysis indicates that the age (HR = 1.051, 95% CI 1.037-1.066, P < 0.001), BMI (HR = 0.885, 95% CI 0.849-0.924, P < 0.001), and PA-WB (HR = 0.615, 95% CI 0.546-0.692, P < 0.001) were independent significant predictors associated with malnutrition. The AUC of the prediction model is 0.7631 (p < 0.001), indicating that the model including age, BMI, and PA-WB has certain diagnostic value for the diagnosis of malnutrition.

CONCLUSION

The PA-WB is an independent prognostic factor of malnutrition. The prediction model constructed by age, BMI, and PA-WB can be used as a useful tool for nutritional evaluation of tumor patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial No.: ChiCTR2100047858.

Treatment-Interval Changes in Serum Levels of Albumin and Histidine Correlated with Treatment Interruption in Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Completing Chemoradiotherapy under Recommended Calorie and Protein Provision

We investigated risk factors for treatment interruption (TI) in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), under the provision of recommended calorie and protein intake; we also evaluated the associations between clinicopathological variables, calorie and protein supply, nutrition–inflammation biomarkers (NIBs), total body composition change (TBC), and a four-serum-amino-acid metabolite panel (histidine, leucine, ornithine, and phenylalanine) among these patients. Patients with LAHNSCC who completed the entire planned CCRT course and received at least 25 kcal/kg/day and 1 g of protein/kg/day during CCRT were prospectively recruited. Clinicopathological variables, anthropometric data, blood NIBs, CCRT-related factors, TBC data, and metabolite panels before and after treatment were collected; 44 patients with LAHNSCC were enrolled. Nine patients (20.4%) experienced TIs. Patients with TIs experienced greater reductions in hemoglobin, serum levels of albumin, uric acid, histidine, and appendicular skeletal mass, and suffered from more grade 3/4 toxicities than those with no TI. Neither increased daily calorie supply (≥30 kcal/kg/day) nor feeding tube placement was correlated with TI. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment-interval changes in serum albumin and histidine levels, but not treatment toxicity, were independently associated with TI. Thus, changes in serum levels of albumin and histidine over the treatment course could cause TI in patients with LAHNSCC following CCRT.

Prevalence of malnutrition and nutrition-related complications in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Cross-sectional studies report that up to 25% of people with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP NET) are malnourished. However, the changes in nutritional status and dietary intake over time are unknown. The present study aimed to comprehensively describe the impact of a GEP NET on nutritional status and quality of life (QOL). Patients diagnosed with a GEP NET were recruited to this prospective longitudinal study on initial attendance to the NET Unit at two tertiary hospitals in Melbourne (VIC, Australia). Patient self-reported QOL measures (European Organisation for Research and Treatment Cancer QLC-C30 and QLC-GINET21) and nutritional outcomes (nutritional status, weight change, fat-free mass [FFM], dietary change, dietitian contact) were collected bi-monthly for six months. Sixty-one patients were recruited (66% male) with a mean ± SD age of 62 ± 12 years, predominantly diagnosed with small intestinal NET and Grade 1/2 disease. Commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (79%), abdominal discomfort (75%) and pain (68%). More patients were malnourished at baseline than at 6 months (29% vs. 13%). Over this 6 months, 48% lost weight, 20% lost ≥ 5% of their body weight, and 62% lost FFM with an average FFM loss of 2.8 kg (95% confidence interval = 2.0, 3.6), consistent with altered body composition. Dietary change was reported by 56% at baseline and 53% at six months, but only 21% consulted a dietitian at baseline and 18% at 6 months. Clinically significant loss of weight and FFM affected many patients with a GEP NET; however, few patients were referred to/or received a consultation with a dietitian. Valid screening practices are needed to identify weight loss and nutrition issues in GEP NET patients, and to facilitate referral to dietitian services.

Association between preoperative nutritional status, inflammation, and intestinal permeability in elderly patients undergoing gastrectomy: a prospective cohort study

Background

Malnutrition is relatively common among elderly patients with gastric cancer. This study sought to analyze whether preoperative nutritional status, inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal permeability were correlated in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery, and their effects on postoperative recovery.

Methods

This study was a single-center prospective cohort study. Patients aged 65-90 years who underwent gastrectomy were included. Preoperative nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Score (MNA), Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS2002), body mass index (BMI), free fatty acids (FFAs), albumin, and prealbumin concentrations. Intestinal permeability was assessed by D-lactate and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (i-FABP). The inflammatory factors included interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts. The time to first defecation, time to first liquid diet, length of hospital stay (LOS), and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results

A total of 134 patients were included. According to the MNA, 50.7% and 32.1% of the cohort had mild to moderate malnutrition, and severe malnutrition, respectively. According to the NRS2002, 38.8% of the patients scored >4 points. I-FABP was significantly negatively correlated with albumin (r=-0.409, P<0.001) and prealbumin (r=-0.397, P<0.001), and significantly positively correlated with MNA (r=0.291, P=0.001), the NRS2002 (r=0.284, P=0.001), and LOS (r=0.245, P=0.004). D-lactate was significantly negatively correlated with BMI (r=-0.229, P=0.008), albumin (r=-0.426, P<0.001), and prealbumin (r=-0.358, P<0.001), and significantly positively correlated with the NRS2002 (r=0.187, P=0.030), time to first defecation (r=0.264, P=0.002), and LOS (r=0.409, P<0.001). There were significant differences in BMI, prealbumin, FFAs, i-FABP, time to first defecation, and time to first fluid diet (P<0.05) among groups based on MNA score. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that D-lactate was an independent risk factor of postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) =1.354, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.099-1.669, P=0.004].

Conclusions

The preoperative intestinal permeability indicators (i.e., D-lactate and i-FABP) are significantly correlated with some nutritional indicators and postoperative recovery indicators. The preoperative D-lactate level is an independent risk factor of postoperative complications, suggesting that altered gut barrier function before surgery could to some extent influence postoperative recovery in the elderly.

Acute Impact of Cancer Treatment on Head and Neck Cancer Patients: FIT4TREATMENT

Simple Summary

Head and neck cancer treatment causes toxicities that compromise health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and treatment efficacy. Exercise training (ET) benefits are reported for many cancer types. The aim of our prospective observational study was to analyse acute treatment’s impact and ET preferences. In the pretreatment phase (n = 18), most patients presented low physical function, were moderately malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and were willing to participate in an ET program. Patients submitted to radical chemoradiotherapy (n = 7) experienced a significant decline in HRQoL and social functioning, an increase in dysphagia severity, a reduction in handgrip strength, and nutritional status deterioration. An ET program may optimize patients’ physical fitness, achieving more efficacy with less toxicity.

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment’s toxicities impact several health domains. Exercise training (ET) may be beneficial. This prospective observational study (NCT04996147) aimed to analyse the acute impact of HNC curative multimodal treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), nutritional status, physical and cognitive functions, and ET preferences. Eighteen patients with stage III/IV HNC were evaluated at baseline (T0), and 10 patients were evaluated at the end of treatment (T1), 7 of them after radical chemoradiotherapy (rCRT). At T0, the majority referred a good HRQoL on the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire (median score: 70.8), were moderately malnourished or at risk of malnutrition (78%), recognized the benefits of an ET program, and were willing to participate (78%). After rCRT, there was worsening in HRQoL (75 vs. 50 score, p = 0.014), dysphagia severity (Eating Assessment Tool: 7 vs. 31, p = 0.027; Functional Oral Intake Scale: 6 vs. 4, p = 0.041), handgrip strength (dominant: 40.9 vs. 35.8 kgf, p = 0.027; nondominant: 37.2 vs. 33.9 kgf, p = 0.043), and nutritional status (Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment: 7 vs. 18, p = 0.028). HNC patients subjected to radical treatment represent a vulnerable population that might benefit from multimodal supportive care strategies including an ET program.

Poor Pre-operative Nutritional Status Is a Risk Factor of Post-operative Infections in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer—A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of the Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS2002) and patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) for post-operative infections in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) who underwent curative surgery.

Methods

This prospective study included 1,493 GC patients and 879 CRC patients who underwent curative surgery at 18 hospitals in China between April 2017 and March 2020. The NRS2002 and PG-SGA were performed on the day of admission. The relationship between the nutritional status of patients before surgery and post-surgical incidence of infection was analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

According to NRS2002, the prevalence of nutritional risk was 51.1% in GC patients and 63.9% in CRC patients. According to the PG-SGA, 38.9% of GC patients and 54.2% of CRC patients had malnutrition. Approximately 4.4% of the GC patients and 9.9% of the CRC patients developed infectious complications after surgery. The univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of infections was significantly higher in GC patients with a high nutritional risk score (NRS2002 ≥5) than in those with a low score (NRS2002 <3), and the PG-SGA score was identified as a predictor of post-operative infection complications of CRC.

Conclusion

The pre-operative nutritional status of patients with GC or CRC has an impact on post-operative infection occurrence. NRS2002 ≥5 was a risk factor for post-operative infection in patients with GC, and the PG-SGA B/C was a predictor of infections in patients with CRC.

Evaluation of health-related quality of life and influencing factors in patients with Crohn disease

OBJECTIVE

We assessed levels of anxiety and depression in patients with Crohn disease (CD) to identify predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

METHODS

In this case-control study, we enrolled 50 adult patients with CD and 50 matched, healthy controls. All participants completed self-administered questionnaires including the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ, patients only). We analyzed the relationship between HRQOL and influencing factors.

RESULTS

Mean total scores on the SAS, SDS, and SF-36 were significantly different between patients and controls. IBDQ scores among patients in the active phase of CD were significantly lower than those in remission phase. SF-36 scores were significantly lower in patients with CD compared with healthy controls. SF-36 scores among patients with active CD were significantly lower than scores among those in remission, and SF-36 scores in patients without complications were significantly higher than in those with complications. SF-36 scores in patients with good nutritional status were also significantly higher than scores in malnourished patients with CD.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression, anxiety, disease activity, complications, and nutritional status were predictive factors of decreased HRQOL in patients with CD.

Prevalence of malnourishment and predictive factors associated with the nutritional status of gynecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a cross-sectional analysis

Objective

To investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of malnourishment in patients with gynecologic cancer during chemotherapy.

Methods

A total of 101 patients treated with chemotherapy between April 2020 and February 2021 were interviewed using the patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). Clinical and laboratory data were also collected. The total number of lymphocytes per cubic milliliter (total lymphocyte count, TLC) and serum albumin were calculated to provide an optimal cut-off point using receiver operating characteristic curves. Clinicopathological variables were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the independent predictive factors for malnourishment.

Results

The prevalence of good, moderate, and severe nourishment was 73.3%, 18.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. The optimal cut-off points for TLC and albumin were 1,450 cells/μL and for albumin was 3.9 g/dL. Univariate analysis indicated that the number of chemotherapy cycles ≤3, albumin level ≤3.95 g/dL, body mass index ≤25 kg/m², TLC <1,450 cells/μL, anemia, and no neutropenia were significantly associated with malnutrition. However, only a serum albumin level ≤3.95 g/dL was independently associated with malnourishment.

Conclusion

Patients with gynecologic cancer treated with chemotherapy were occasionally found to be malnourished, with the independent predictive predictor being a blood albumin level less than or equal to 3.95 g/dL.

Barriers and Facilitators When Implementing Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures at a Municipal Cancer Care Unit: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Few qualitative studies of barriers and facilitators when implementing electronic patient-reported outcome measure (ePROM) in municipal cancer care exist within the large body of symptom assessment research. Such data, gathered from healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perspective, are central to the development and design of sustainable interventions aiming for a systematic and patient-centered symptom assessment to patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify and explore barriers and facilitators, as described by HCPs, in the implementation of the ePROM application "Eir" at a municipal cancer care unit in Norway.

METHODS

The study applies a qualitative method, conducting an inductive data inquiry of semistructured individual interviews and focus groups with 14 Norwegian HCPs. Analysis was inspired by thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed 3 main themes affecting the implementation of ePROM in municipal cancer care: "achieving patient-centered care," "crucial management and training," and "technological barriers."

CONCLUSION

The results from this study suggest that HCPs' motivation plays a significant role when implementing ePROM. Motivation of HCPs was strongly influenced by whether the application added value to previously used symptom assessment. Hands-on management and a multiprofessional approach enabled the implementation by facilitating adaptations, training, and resources.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The findings show that adapting the implementation of ePROMs to patient population could be of major importance. Early integration of ePROMs in cancer care could facilitate use throughout the disease trajectory.

Implementation of a standardised perioperative nutrition care pathway in upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery: a multi-site pilot study

BACKGROUND

Perioperative nutrition support is recommended for patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer surgery; however, limited evidence exists regarding implementation of a nutrition care pathway in clinical practice. The aims of this pilot study were to determine if implementation of a standardised perioperative nutrition pathway for patients undergoing UGI cancer surgery improves access to dietetics care, and to evaluate study feasibility, fidelity, resource requirements and effect on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed UGI cancer from four major metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne, planned for curative intent surgery, were included in the prospective pilot study (n=35), with historical controls (n=35) as standard care. Outcomes were dietetics care (dietetics contacts) nutritional status; hand grip strength; weight change; preoperative hospital admissions; complications and length of stay; recruitment feasibility; fidelity and adherence; and, resource requirements. Continuous data were analysed using independent samples t-test accounting for unequal variances or Mann-Whitney U test. Dichotomous data were analysed using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

The percentage of participants receiving preoperative dietetic intervention increased from 55% to 100% (p<0.001). Mean and standard deviation (SD) dietetics contacts increased from 2.2 (3.7) to 5.9 (3.9) (p<0.001). Non-statistically significant decreases in preoperative nutrition-related hospital admissions, and surgical complications were demonstrated in patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Recruitment rate was 81%, and adherence to the nutrition pathway was high (>70% for all stages of the pathway). The mean estimated resource requirement for the preoperative period was 3.7 (2.8) hours per patient.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of this standardised nutrition pathway resulted in improved access to dietetics care. Recruitment feasibility and high fidelity to the intervention suggest that a larger study would be viable. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Body Mass Index-Adjusted Weight Loss Grading System and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Survivors 1 Year After Esophageal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

The association between pre- and postoperative weight loss and cancer-related fatigue after esophageal cancer surgery is unclear. This nationwide, prospective, longitudinal cohort study aimed to assess the influence of weight loss on cancer-related fatigue among esophageal cancer survivors.

METHODS

Patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer between 2013 and 2019 in Sweden were enrolled in this study. Exposure was measured by the body mass index-adjusted weight loss grading system (WLGS). Cancer-related fatigue was assessed using the fatigue scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EORTC QLQ-Fatigue 12 (QLQ-FA12) questionnaire measuring overall fatigue and physical, emotional, and cognitive fatigue. Growth mixture models were used to identify unobserved trajectories of cancer-related fatigue. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were fitted to assess the associations between WLGS and cancer-related fatigue, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Three trajectories were identified-low, moderate, and severe persistent fatigue. Cancer-related fatigue remained stable in each trajectory between 1 and 3 years after esophagectomy. Among the 356 enrolled patients, 4.5-22.6% were categorized into the severe persistent fatigue trajectory in terms of QLQ-C30 (19.9%), FA12 overall (10.5%), physical (22.6%), emotional (15.9%), and cognitive fatigue (4.5%). No association between pre- or postoperative WLGS and cancer-related fatigue was found between 1 and 3 years after esophageal cancer surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight loss did not seem to influence cancer-related fatigue after esophageal cancer surgery.

A Predictive Model for Qualitative Evaluation of PG-SGA in Tumor Patients Through Machine Learning

Objective

Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was a nutritional status assessment technique specifically tailored for patients with oncology. The goal of this study was to develop a machine learning (ML) prediction model for predicting PG-SGA categorization of patients with tumor.

Methods

From 2014 to 2020, patients at the First Hospital of Jilin University performed laboratory testing, bioelectrical impedance, physical measures, and the PG-SGA scale. A total of 8230 patients were involved in the study. Patients with missing or partial data were removed, leaving 7287 patients, of which 3743 were males and 3544 were females. ML was used to design a clinical prediction model for PG-SGA categories.

Results

Through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and the correlation matrix, 135 variables were screened and 6 variables were retained; ML was performed among the remaining variables. The accuracy of neural network prediction models was 70.3% and 70.4% for males and females in the training cohort, respectively, and 74.4% and 73.2% for males and females in the validation cohort, respectively. The area under curve (AUC) of males was 0.87 for PG-SGA scores “0–3”, 0.70 for PG-SGA scores “4–8” and 0.74 for PG-SGA scores “>8”. As for females, the AUC was 0.85 for PG-SGA scores “0–3”, 0.65 for PG-SGA scores “4–8” and 0.76 for PG-SGA scores “>8”. The results of confusion matrix showed that the models were of good predictive validity. The prediction model was nearly 90% accurate for predictions that do not require nutritional support.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that neural network learning is the best clinical prediction model using ML. The model can work as a prediction for the PG-SGA classification of patients with cancer and can be promoted further in the clinic.

Pembrolizumab Combined With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery for Locally Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Protocol for a Multicentre, Prospective, Randomized-Controlled, Phase III Clinical Study (Keystone-002)

Background

To compare the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) followed by surgery for locally advanced resectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

This study is a multicentre, prospective, randomized-controlled, phase III clinical study. Eligible ESCC (staging: cT1N2M0 or cT2-3N0-2M0 (stage II/III, high-risk lesions in T2N0M0)) patients will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (pembrolizumab with neoCT, n = 228) or the control group (neoCRT, n = 114) at a ratio of 2:1. Within 4-6 weeks after preoperative therapy, the McKeown procedure will be performed. Patients in the experimental group will also receive pembrolizumab alone as adjuvant therapy after surgery until 1 year or until the radiographically confirmed PD or other condition indicated for premature termination is observed. The primary endpoint is event-free survival (EFS). The secondary endpoints are 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), short-term outcomes, and quality of life.

Discussion

This is the first prospectively randomized controlled trial designed to compare pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for resectable ESCC. According to our hypothesis, preoperative pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy will result in a better tumour response and prolong the survival of patients, with acceptable toxicity. This study started in December 2021, and the enrolment time is estimated to be 2 years.

Trial Registration

This prospective study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04807673), March 2021.

Development and Feasibility of an Inpatient Cancer-Related Sarcopenia Pathway at a Major Cancer Centre

Cancer-related sarcopenia is a complex condition; however, no cancer-specific clinical model is available to guide clinical practice. This study aims to (1) develop an evidence-based care pathway for the management of cancer-related sarcopenia (“sarc-pathway”) and (2) pilot test the feasibility (reach, intervention fidelity, patient and clinician acceptability) of the sarc-pathway in an inpatient cancer ward. The sarc-pathway was developed using a care pathway format and informed by the current literature. Patients admitted to a 32-bed inpatient cancer ward were recruited to receive sarc-pathway care and the feasibility outcomes were assessed. Of the 317 participants admitted, 159 were recruited over 3.5-months (median age 61 years; 56.0% males). Participant consent was high (99.4% of those approached) and 30.2% were at risk of/had sarcopenia. The sarc-pathway screening, assessment and treatment components were delivered as intended; however, low completion of clinical assessment measures were observed for muscle mass (bioimpedance spectroscopy, 20.5%) and muscle function (5-times chair stand test, 50.0%). The sarc-pathway was demonstrated to be acceptable to patients and multidisciplinary clinicians. In an inpatient cancer ward, the sarc-pathway is a feasible and acceptable clinical model and method to deliver and adhere to the sarcopenia clinical parameters specified, albeit with further exploration of appropriate clinical assessment measures.

Self-management program for patients with chronic kidney disease (SMP-CKD) in Southern China: protocol for an ambispective cohort study

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health problem. Short-term self-management has been considered to effect some renal and psychological endpoints. However, there are currently very few studies about self-management for CKD that a) have been scientifically designed by a theory-based framework and b) that evaluate the long-term effects and working mechanism. This study presents the rationale and design of a theory-based cohort study to explore how this self-management intervention works and its effectiveness on the Chinese CKD population.

Methods

In this ambispective intervention cohort study,1,200 patients with CKD stages 1–5 will be recruited from July 2015 to July 2024 in 3 branches of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (GPHCM) in Guangdong province, China. The patients in the self-management cohort will choose to receive an intervention that consists of education, nutrition/diet modification, lifestyle change recommendation, medication review, and psychology support based on Social Cognition Theory (SCT). The patients in the control cohort will do regular follow-ups based on the clinic rules. All the patients will be followed up for 5 years, or until the occurrence of a primary outcome. Detailed clinical, laboratory markers, nutritional status, psychological exposures and outcome questionaries will be collected semiannually in CKD stage 1–2 and trimonthly in stage 3–5 patients. The primary outcome is the occurrence of composite clinical endpoints (doubling of serum creatinine level, ESKD, loss of renal function (≥ 40% decline in GFR from baseline), death, major cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events). The main secondary outcomes include the absolute change and slope of eGFR, absolute changes of urinary protein creatinine ratio, 24-h urine proteinuria, intact parathyroid hormone level, and self-management adherence rate and quality of life from baseline to end of the study. The effectiveness of self-management will be analyzed and the association between longitudinal trajectories of self-management and renal outcomes will be evaluated.

Discussion

This study aims to provide further evidence for the effectiveness of theory-based self-management in CKD patients and to improve the lives of patients with CKD by slowing progression, improving psychological well-being and overall quality of life.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR1900024633). 19 July, 2019. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=38378

Physical and Psychological Health Behavior Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic that May Inform Surgical Prehabilitation: a Narrative Review

Purpose of Review

Multimodal prehabilitation aims to improve preoperative health in ways that reduce surgical complications and expedite post-operative recovery. However, the extent to which preoperative health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is unclear and evidence for the mitigating effects of prehabilitation in this context has not been elucidated. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rapid reorganization of perioperative pathways. Delayed diagnosis and surgery have caused a backlog of cases awaiting surgery increasing the risk of more complex procedures due to disease progression. Poor fitness and preoperative deconditioning are predictive of surgical complications and may be compounded by pandemic-related restrictions to accessing supportive services. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rapid reorganization of perioperative pathways. This narrative review aims to summarize the understanding of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on preoperative health and related behaviors and their implication for the need and delivery for prehabilitation to engender improved surgical outcomes. A literature search of Medline was conducted for articles related to preoperative health, prehabilitation, and surgical outcomes published between December 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. Additional hand searches for relevant publications within the included literature were also conducted through October 15, 2021.

Recent Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic, and measures designed to reduce the spread of the virus, have resulted in physical deconditioning, deleterious dietary changes, substance misuse, and heightened anxiety prior to surgery. Due to the adverse health changes prior to surgery, and often protracted waiting time for surgery, there is likely an elevated risk of peri- and post-operative complications. A small number of prehabilitation services and research programmes have been rapidly adapted or implemented to address these needs.

Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic to date, people undergoing surgery have faced a triple threat posed by extended wait times for surgery, reduced access to supportive services, and an elevated risk of poor outcomes. It is imperative that healthcare providers find ways to employ evidence-based prehabilitation strategies that are accessible and safe to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on surgical outcomes. Attention should be paid to cohorts most affected by established health inequities and further exacerbated by the pandemic.

Inflammation Status and Body Composition Predict Two-Year Mortality of Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma under Provision of Recommended Energy Intake during Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Only few prospective cohort trials have evaluated the risk factors for the 2-year mortality rate between two patient subgroups with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC): oral cavity cancer with adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) (OCC) and non-oral cavity cancer with primary CCRT (NOCC), under the recommended calorie intake and investigated the interplay among calorie supply, nutrition–inflammation biomarkers (NIBs), and total body composition change (TBC), as assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Patients with LAHNSCC who consumed at least 25 kcal/kg/day during CCRT were prospectively recruited. Clinicopathological variables, blood NIBs, CCRT-related factors, and TBC data before and after treatment were collected. Factor analysis was performed to reduce the number of anthropometric and DXA-derived measurements. Cox proportional hazards models were used for analysis. We enrolled 123 patients with LAHNSCC (69 with OCC and 54 with NOCC). The mean daily calorie intake correlated with the treatment interval changes in total body muscle and fat. Patients consuming ≥30 kcal/kg/day had lower pretreatment levels but exhibited fewer treatment interval changes in anthropometric and DXA measurements than patients consuming <30 kcal/kg/day. In the multivariate analysis of the 2-year mortality rate, the prognostic influence of the recommended calorie intake could not be confirmed, but different risk factors (performance status, pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and treatment interval body muscle changes in patients with OCC; age, pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and body fat storage in patients with NOCC) showed independent effects. Therefore, the inflammation status and body composition, but not the recommended calorie supply, contribute to the 2-year mortality rate for patients with LAHNSCC receiving CCRT.

Exercise-Based Interventions to Counteract Skeletal Muscle Mass Loss in People with Cancer: Can We Overcome the Odds?

Addressing skeletal muscle mass loss is an important focus in oncology research to improve clinical outcomes, including cancer treatment tolerability and survival. Exercise is likely a necessary component of muscle-mass-preserving interventions for people with cancer. However, randomized controlled trials with exercise that include people with cancer with increased susceptibility to more rapid and severe muscle mass loss are limited. The aim of the current review is to highlight features of cancer-related skeletal muscle mass loss, discuss the impact in patients most at risk, and describe the possible role of exercise as a management strategy. We present current gaps within the exercise oncology literature and offer several recommendations for future studies to support research translation, including (1) utilizing accurate and reliable body composition techniques to assess changes in skeletal muscle mass, (2) incorporating comprehensive assessments of patient health status to allow personalized exercise prescription, (3) coupling exercise with robust nutritional recommendations to maximize the impact on skeletal muscle outcomes, and (4) considering key exercise intervention features that may improve exercise efficacy and adherence. Ultimately, the driving forces behind skeletal muscle mass loss are complex and may impede exercise tolerability and efficacy. Our recommendations are intended to foster the design of high-quality patient-centred research studies to determine whether exercise can counteract muscle mass loss in people with cancer and, as such, improve knowledge on this topic.

Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Clinical Outcome in Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor After Surgical Resection

Background

Currently, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, and surgical resection is the main treatment. Malnutrition after gastrointestinal surgery is not uncommon, which may have adverse effects on postoperative recovery and prognosis. However, the nutritional status of GIST patients after surgical resection and its impact on clinical outcomes have received less attention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to dynamically evaluate the nutritional status of GIST patients undergoing surgical resection, and to analyze the correlation between nutritional status and clinical outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of GIST patients who underwent surgical resection in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020. Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) were used to assess the nutritional status of all patients at admission and discharge, and the correlation between nutritional risk and clinical outcomes was analyzed.

Results

A total of 413 GIST patients were included in this study, among which 114 patients had malnutrition risk at admission (NRS2002 score ≥ 3), and 65 patients had malnutrition (PG-SGA score ≥ 4). The malnutrition risk rate (27.60 vs. 46.73%, p &lt; 0.001) and malnutrition incidence (15.73 vs. 37.29%, p &lt; 0.001) at admission were lower than those at discharge. Compared with the laboratory results at admission, the albumin, prealbumin, and total protein of the patients at discharge were significantly lower (all p &lt; 0.05). And there was a negative correlation between PG-SGA and clinical outcome (all p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion

The nutritional status of GIST patients after surgical resection at discharge was worse than that at admission, and malnutrition is an important risk factor leading to poor clinical outcomes.

The role of nutritional assessment for predicting radiotherapy-induced adverse events in patients with gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nutritional factors in predicting radiotherapy-associated toxicities for gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 285 gastric cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy in our hospital (Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center) between 2010 and 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Nutritional status assessment included body weight loss (BWL), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, nutrition risk screening 2002(NRS-2002), patient-generated subjective global assessment(PG-SGA) and nutritional risk index (NRI).

RESULTS

Of all patients, 19.6% were underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m²), 25.6% were hypoalbuminemia (<35 g l^-1) and 48.8% lost ≥10% of body weight in the 6-month interval before radiotherapy(BWL). Meanwhile, 73.3%, 78.6 and 47.2% of the patients were diagnosed as malnutrition based on NRS-2002, PG-SGA and NRI, respectively. Hematological adverse events were present in 91.2% (≥Grade 1) and 20.4% (≥Grade 3) of the patients. Non-hematological adverse events occurred in 89.8% (≥Grade1) and 14.4% (≥Grade 3) of the patients. Multivariate analyses indicated that only hypoalbuminemia(<35 g l^-1) was independent predictor for Grade 3/4 hematological and non-hematological adverse events. Meanwhile, higher BWL(≥10%) was also independent predictor for Grade 3/4 non-hematological adverse events. NRS-2002, PG-SGA and NRI score were not associated with treatment-induced adverse events.

CONCLUSION

BWL and serum albumin are useful factors for predicting severe adverse events in gastric cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The use of nutritional factors in predicting severe adverse events enables implementation of individualized treatment strategies for early and intensive nutritional interventions in high-risk patients.