Malnutrition Prevalence in Adult and Older Adults Patients with Leukemia in Pretreatment Phase

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional status in the pretreatment phase may be related to unfavorable clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of adult and older adults patients with leukemia in the pretreatment cancer phase. Method: Cross-sectional, retrospective study, involving patients with leukemia in the pretreatment cancer phase. The inclusion criteria were: ≥20 years of age, both genders and enrollment at the National Cancer Institute Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA). The exclusion criteria were not having confirmed diagnosis of leukemia, registration of the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment and not having submitted to previous cancer treatment. Chi-square and Student’s t tests were used. Results: 69 patients were evaluated with leukemia in the pretreatment cancer phase, mostly men (52.2%) under 60 years of age (52.2%). The prevalence of malnutrition was 65.2%, being more expressive in the older adults (78.8%, p=0.023). The prevalence of nutritional risk had the same frequency (65.2%), however it was higher in patients with comorbidities (80.8%, p=0.017) and smoking history (90.9%, p=0.056). Conclusion: Most patients with leukemia started their cancer treatment with impaired nutritional status, which was exacerbated for those with chronic leukemia, older adults, with comorbidities and history of smoking.