Nutritional Satus and Inflammatory Markers of Preoperative Oral Cavity and Oropharynx Cancer Patients

Abstract

This article aimed to characterize patients with oral cavity and oropharynx cancer as to their protein-energy nutritional state and presence of inflammatory markers. Thus, a case series was conducted with 48 patients who were consecutively sent to surgery without any previous treatment. Their nutritional state was analyzed using laboratory, anthropometric, dietary and clinical indicators. Inflammatory markers were determined by alpha 1- acid glycoprotein and C-reactive protein. There was weight loss >5% in 31% of the patients within the last six months. The body mass index detected malnutrition in 14% of the patients. The adequacy level of energetic intake was 61±25 according to nutritional recommendations. According to subjective global assessment, 37% of the patients were malnourished. There were low serum concentrations of hemoglobin in 48% of patients, albumin in 44%, retinol-binding protein in 33%, total lymphocyte count in 25%, transthyretin in 14%. On the other hand high concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were found in 4% of patients and C-reactive protein in 10%. Laboratory protein indicators (hemoglobin and albumin) and the subjective global assessment showed higher prevalence of nutritional deficit when compared to other indicator studied. The occurrence of patients with systemic inflammatory response was small, thus low serum proteins suggest malnutrition. Among the anthropometric indicators, the percentage of weight loss as to previous body weight seems to be a more appropriate indicator of changes in body composition than the body mass index.