Malnutrition in Patients With Cancer: Comparison of Perceptions by Patients,Relatives, and Physicians—Results of the NutriCancer2012 Study |
| |
| Authors: | Emmanuel Gyan MD PhD Jean‐Philippe Durand MD Jean Lacau Saint Guily MD PhD Sébastien Gouy MD Marie Lespiau Movschin MD Faiza Khemissa MD Nicolas Flori MD Sandrine Oziel‐Taieb MD Cécile Bannier Braticevic MD Gilbert Zeanandin MD Christophe Hebert MD Francesco Savinelli MD Fran?ois Goldwasser MD PhD Xavier Hébuterne MD PhD for the NutriCancer Investigator Group |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Hematology and Cell Therapy, Tours Teaching Hospital (CHRU), Tours, France and Faculty of Medicine of Tours, University Fran?ois Rabelais, Tours, FranceThese authors contributed equally to the work.;2. Medical Oncology, Cochin Teaching Hospital, AP‐HP, Paris, France and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France;3. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tenon Teaching Hospital, AP‐HP, Paris, France and University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, France;4. Gynecological Surgery, Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris, France;5. Digestive and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Pitié‐Salpêtrière Teaching Hospital, AP‐HP, Paris, France and University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, France;6. Gastroenterology, Perpignan Hospital, Perpignan, France;7. Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology, Cancer Institute (ICM Val d’Aurelle), Montpellier, France;8. Medical Oncology, Paoli‐Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France;9. Oncology and Geriatrics, Paoli‐Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France;10. Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Nice Teaching Hospital (CHU) and University of Nice Sophia‐Antipolis Nice, France;11. Oncology, Antoine Lacassagne Institute, Nice, France;12. Medical Oncology, Saint‐Joseph Hospital, Paris, France. A complete list of collaborators is presented in the acknowledgment section |
| |
| Abstract: | Background: Malnutrition is a critical predictor of toxicity and outcome in patients with cancer and may be perceived differently by patients, relatives, and physicians. Aims: To assess the prevalence of malnutrition in oncology departments and to compare it with the perceptions of nutrition status by patients themselves, their closest relatives, and attending physicians. Materials and Methods: A 1‐day multicentric cross‐sectional survey on the prevalence of malnutrition was conducted in different oncology departments using patient‐, relative‐, and physician‐specific questionnaires. Malnutrition was defined by a weight loss ≥5% within 1 month or ≥10% within 6 months, a body mass index ≤18.5 kg/m2 in patients aged <70 years or ≤21 kg/m2 in patients aged ≥70 years, and/or albuminemia <35 g/L. Questionnaires for assessing medical condition, knowledge of nutrition status, and perceptions of the impact of malnutrition on daily life were distributed to consenting patients, attending physicians, and closest relatives. Results: A total of 2197 patients were included, and 2071 and 976 questionnaires were collected from patients and relatives, respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition was 39%. Physicians overestimated malnutrition (44%), whereas patients and relatives underestimated it (22% and 23%, respectively, P < .001). Conversely, malnutrition‐associated symptoms were underestimated by physicians compared with patients and relatives. Conclusion: We found a prevalence of malnutrition of 39%: it was underestimated by patients and relatives and overestimated by physicians. |
| |
| Keywords: | malnutrition supportive care nutrition intervention quality of life caregiver |
|
|
