The relationship between nutritional status and prognosis in advanced cancer patients in palliative care: a retrospective study

Abstract Purpose The study aimed to determine the severe nutritional status, related factors, and its effect on the prognosis of patients with advanced cancer.Methods The study consisted of 208 patients. The nutritional status of the patients was evaluated by the biochemical factors (serum albumin, transferrin and hemoglobin levels), anthropometric parameters (body weight change and BMI), questionnaires (PG-SGA) and physical activity (KPS). Severe nutritional status was diagnosed with the PG-SGA score of ≥9. The factors related to nutritional status were determined using a logistic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were used to calculate OS. The effect of poor nutritional status on survival was performed by Cox regression analysis.Results The median age was 64 years (28–89). Severe nutritional status was found in 56.4% of patients according to PG-SGA. The factors associated with severe nutritional status according to PG-SGA were age, BMI＜18.5 kg/m2, KPS < 80, anemia, nutrition impact symptoms (loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, constipation and weight loss), pre-albumin＜200mg/L, albumin＜35g/L, and CRP≥10mg/L. The median overall survival significantly decreased with severe nutritional status according to PG-SGA (p < 0.011), fatigue (p = 0.039), weight loss (p = 0.009) and cancer type (p = 0.026).Conclusion Severe nutritional status is a common factor associated with poor prognosis in advanced cancer patients. Patients should be assessed for nutritional status and supported.