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Influence of weight loss on outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concomitant chemoradiotherapy
Author(s) -
Capuano Giorgio,
Grosso Alessandra,
Gentile Pier Carlo,
Battista Michele,
Bianciardi Federico,
Di Palma Annamaria,
Pavese Ida,
Satta Francesco,
Tosti Michela,
Palladino Anna,
Coiro Guido,
Di Palma Mario
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20737
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , concomitant , weight loss , chemoradiotherapy , head and neck , body weight , cancer , surgery , obesity
Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of weight loss on outcome in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT): treatment interruption, infections, mortality, and hospital readmission rate. Methods. Forty patients with head and neck cancer were enrolled. All patients were counseled to follow a nutritional program during CCRT. Body weight was evaluated at baseline, at the end, and 30 days after radiochemotherapy. Results. Ninety percent of compliant patients with nutritional program maintained body weight (mean, 1 ± 2.4 kg) and 100% of noncompliant patients continued to lose weight (mean, −9 ± 4 kg; p < .001). A reduction greater than 20% of prediagnosis weight significantly correlated with treatment interruption ( p = .003), infections ( p = .002), early mortality ( p = .011), hospital readmission rate ( p = .001), and survival (log‐rank test: z = −2.722, p = .006). Conclusion. In patients with head and neck cancer undergoing CCRT, the early nutritional management reduces weight loss and improve outcome. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008