Nutritional assessment in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
Gurski, R.R.; Schirmer, C.C.; Rosa, Aé.R.; Brentano, L.
Hepato-Gastroenterology 50(54): 1943-1947
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-6390 PMID: 14696438 Document Number: 563659
Background/Aims: Protein-calorie malnutrition that occurs in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus presents defined implications in surgical results. The present study aims to establish a nutritional score for malnutrition to measure the prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition and to determine parameters with higher discriminatory power for protein-calorie malnutrition diagnosis. Methodology: 45 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (cases) and 90 surgical patients (controls) were analysed using 12 parameters: percentage of body weight loss, triceps and subscapular skin fold, mid-arm circumference and arm muscle circumference, serum total proteins, albumin, transferin, pre-albumin, haematocrit, total lymphocyte count and late hypersensitivity skin tests [Brazil]. Prognostic Nutritional Index was calculated for all patients. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p<0.05) regarding all evaluated parameters except late hypersensitivity skin tests. Patients were classified as malnourished when presented with 6 or more altered parameters. Through the proposed score, the prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition was defined in cases (57.8%) and in controls (7.8%) groups with statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Conclusions: The proposed score allowed the diagnosis of malnourished patients, defined the malnutrition prevalence in both groups and established parameters with a greater discriminatory power for the protein-calorie malnutrition diagnosis.