Summary:
Background: Malnutrition is a frequent complication in
patients with advanced staged lung cancer and can
negatively affect the outcome of treatments. Lack of
knowledge about nutrition, complications of disease and
side effects of anticancer therapies can also lead to
inadequate nutrient intake and subsequent malnutrition.
Nutritional status is a strong predictor of quality of life in
cancer patients.
Objective: To get the effect of the nutritional intervention
on outcome of dietary intake, body composition, nutritional
status, functional capacity and quality of life in patients
with lung cancer cachexia receiving chemotherapy.
Patients and Methods: This 6 months study included the
lung cancer patients who were interviewed with clinical
assessment. Nutritional score of each patient was recorded.
Individualized management plan with nutritional
intervention was given and nutritional counseling was done
by a nutritionist every week. Chemotherapy ± radiotherapy
was given. Every patient was followed up at 1st, 2nd, 3rd
and 6th week and was assessed regarding symptoms,
clinical findings, nutritional score and radiological status.
Results: Total 628 lung cancer patients with 523 (83%)
males and 105 (17%) females (Male: female 4.98:1) were
enrolled. Mean age was 56.88 years. Two thirds of them
were illiterate. Around 90% came from poor and below
average socioeconomic group. More than 95% male and
>66% female were tobacco users in different forms. On
assessing nutritional score, almost all were with high risk
score (95%). About 80% presented with WHO performance
status at 2 and 3. About 61% patients got treatment after
hospitalization. Following nutritional intervention along with
supportive, symptomatic, treatment of comorbid diseases
and anti-cancer treatment, the result showed that mean
nutritional score at 1st and 2nd week were 8.24 and 6.63
(high risk), at 3rd and 6th week were 5.46 and 4.34
(Intermediate risk). There was a significant effect for time
(p<.001). Symptomatic improvement occurred in 60% of
the patients. Conclusion: Nutritional intervention improves
nutritional score if the other treatment like supportive,
symptomatic, comorbid condition and anticancer treatment
could be applied adequately.
(J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2019; 37: 66-71)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcps.v37i2.40562