Nutritional Status and Functional Assessment of Anorexia, Cachexia Including Quality of Life (QoL) in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies Undergoing Chemotherapy

Malnutrition is an overlooked domain of concern among patients with GI malignancies especially, while undergoing chemotherapy. Poor nutrition deleteriously impacts treatment outcomes, performance status and eventually the QoL. A quantitative descriptive research approach was used to assess the nutritional status and the functional assessment of anorexia/cachexia including QoL among patients with GI malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 111 adult patients were enrolled using consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using PGSGA and FAACT questionnaires. The findings revealed that based on PGSGA, 50.5% were moderately and 23.4% were severely malnourished. 73.90% had a PGSGA point score of ≥ 9. Based on SCRINIO classification, 20.7% were symptomatically cachexic and 58.6% were symptomatic precachexic. Hemoglobin was < 11.9g/dL in 63% of patients. 45% had a performance status (ECOG) score of 1. The overall mean FAACT score was moderate (108.6822.82). Statistically significant, strong negative correlation existed between nutritional status and FAACT (r=-0.710, p-0.000). Statistically significant difference was found in the mean nutritional status based on ECOG score (p-0.000), SCRINIO classification (p-0.000), hemoglobin level (p-0.001), BMI (p-0.020), family income (p-0.035) and the duration of last chemotherapy received (p-0.035). Also, statistically significant difference was seen in the mean FAACT score based on ECOG score (p-0.000), SCRINIO classification (p-0.000), family income (p-0.001), hemoglobin level (p-0.004) and BMI status (p-0.030). The study reveals that majority of GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are moderately to severely malnourished and have a moderate functional status and QoL. The study emphasizes the critical need for ongoing preemptive nutritional assessment/interventions, improved symptom management and individualized dietary counseling to cancer patients.