Anorexia in cancer patients: Prevalence and impact on the nutritional status

摘要: Abstract One hundred and eightysix cancer patients with different types, site stage of disease, consecutively admitted to the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, were examined. The purpose study was assess prevalence subjective anorexia determine whether some nutrition-related indices are within homogeneous categories patients, anorectic non-anorectic. Anorexia measured on basis an appetite score, evaluated a visual analogue rating scale. Nutritional intake by computerised programme habitual food consumption. assessment included anthropometric evaluations (triceps skinfold, arm circumference, muscle circumference) biochemical (serum albumin, total iron binding capacity). A nutritional index then calculated: GNS = P + I M × 100, where P: actual weight/premorbid weight; I: weight/ideal M: mass circumference/ideal circumference. evaluation data showed that: (1) ranged from 1 3 2 5 depending type tumour, disease. (2) Most nutritional-related variables significantly worse in compared non-anorectic patients. (3) Within groups tumour location, but for presence or absence anorexia, there is no difference respect indices; except oesophagus stomach who always more depleted. (4) did not seem influence status at early (except stomach) it associated malnutrition as disease progressed advanced stages.