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Nutrition Status and Health‐Related Quality of Life Among Outpatients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Author(s) -
Mulasi Urvashi,
Vock David M.,
JagerWittenaar Harriët,
Teigen Levi,
Kuchnia Adam J.,
Jha Gautam,
Fujioka Naomi,
Rudrapatna Venkatesh,
Patel Manish R.,
Earthman Carrie P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1002/ncp.10476
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , overweight , malnutrition , swallowing , psychosocial , dry mouth , head and neck cancer , saliva , body mass index , cancer , weight loss , physical therapy , pediatrics , surgery , obesity , psychiatry , nursing
This pilot study evaluated nutrition status and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes among outpatients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Data were collected from 19 patients (18 males, 1 female) during 3 time points: once before chemoradiotherapy (CRT) initiation and 1 and 3 months after CRT. Nutrition status was evaluated using the Scored Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA). Malnutrition was defined as PG‐SGA stage B (moderate/suspected malnutrition) or stage C (severely malnourished). HRQOL was assessed through the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30) and its HNC‐specific module (QLQ‐H&N35). We found that well‐nourished patients reported having fewer issues with pain, fatigue, appetite loss, chewing, sticky saliva, coughing, and social eating than those categorized as malnourished ( P < .05). The association between the global quality‐of‐life score and PG‐SGA score was statistically significant but weak in strength ( r = −0.37, P = .012). Although PG‐SGA identified 70% as either moderately or severely malnourished before treatment initiation, the mean body mass index was in the overweight category (29 ± 5 kg/m 2 ). Compared with pretreatment, patients reported more severe problems with chewing, swallowing, sticky saliva, dry mouth, speech, social eating, and taste and smell sensations at 1‐month follow‐up, although issues with dry mouth persisted 3 months post treatment ( P = .003). In conclusion, malnourished patients reported having worse HRQOL symptoms compared with well‐nourished patients. Routine nutrition and psychosocial assessment through PG‐SGA and EORTC tools might help identify patients in need of nutrition and psychosocial care.