Nutritional Profile of Patients Submitted to Chemotherapy in a Tertiary Outpatient Clinic

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze cancer patients undergoing chemotherapeutical treatment. To do so, fifty cancer patients were evaluated in a chemotherapy outpatient clinic. Nutritional status was assessed using the following anthropometric measurements: body mass index, triceps skinfold, arm circumference and arm muscle circumference; and the dietetic measurement using 24-hour dietary recall. The treatment time average was arout 4.5 months. The anthropometric evaluation indicated a mean body mass index of 25+-4.0 Kg/m2, 10% of patients with malnutrition, 44% in the eutrophic range, 32% of patients with overweight and 14% of obese patients. The mean arm circumference was of 28+-4.2 cm, arm muscle circumference was of 21.2+-2.9 mm and mean triceps skinfold of 21.2+-8 mm. Among the eutrophic and overweight patients, 35.3% and 34.7% demonstrated decreasing of the lean mass, respectively. Regarding changes in body weight 33% presented significant weight loss during this period. The mean energy intake was 1,875+-200.2kcal/day, and mean dietary fiber intake was 14+-3g/day. Concerning micronutrients, calcium consumption was of 612.12+-200.2 mg/day, iron 13.9+-3.9mg/day and vitamin Cwas 99+-60.9 mg/day. Besides the prevalence of overweight, the nutritional requirements weren’t attained. Great part of the eutrophic and overweighed patients was in decrease of the lean mass, indicating a nutritional risk and the importance of understanding properly the nutritional assessment.